LONG BEACH – An 11-year-old girl died after a preplanned fight with another girl, also 11, in an alley near Willard Elementary School, police said at a press conference held Saturday night.

The girl, identified by friends as Joanna Ramos, sustained undisclosed injuries after the off-campus fight Friday evening. Both of the girls then walked away.

Some time later, family members noticed Ramos wasn’t feeling well and drove her to a local emergency room. She underwent surgery Friday, was initially listed in critical condition, but was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m. Friday.

“There are times when words do not convey the sense of sadness we feel,” Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said at a press conference at the Long Beach Police Department. “This is one of those times.”

Police have not made any arrests, but have interviewed the girl who engaged in the fight with Ramos. Deputy Chief Robert Luna said there were about seven onlookers present at the time, and they have been interviewed as well.

Police did not say what prompted the fight, but friends said it was over a boy.

“They were fighting over a boy. I told the teacher and she said she would talk to all the girls on Monday,” said Stephanie Guadalupe Soltero, who said she was friends with the victim.

IMAGE of Joanna Ramos photographed by Long Beach Press Telegram staff