A 53-year-old woman living at the Denton State School died Friday evening from a head injury incurred when she was assaulted by another resident earlier this month, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Janice Campbell was pushed by another resident, who was profoundly mentally retarded, said Cecilia Fedorov, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, which oversees the state schools.

“The resident had the mental capacity of a 6-month-old baby,” Fedorov said. “There was no malicious intent or staff involvement.”

The manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Campbell, a long-term resident of the Denton State School, was shoved to the ground during an altercation and hit her head on the floor, said Brittany Martin, an investigative clerk for the medical examiner’s office.

Martin said Campbell was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth and later died from her injuries.

Although Fedorov said Sunday that she did not know the exact date of the incident, Denton police records show that a helicopter ambulance was called to the Denton State School at about 9 a.m. on March 5 to take someone to Harris Methodist Hospital, said Denton police Sgt. Brian Blalock.

The incident will be investigated by the aging and disability department and the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, which would decide if a local law enforcement investigation is necessary, Fedorov said.

“The incident will be thoroughly investigated by us and Family Protective Services,” she said.

Bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature that could shut down the state school system or drastically reduce its size. The bills stem from a recent U.S. Justice Department report that found abuse throughout the system, including at the Denton school.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com .