LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wrongful-death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department is set to begin trial Wednesday, centering around the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta in a clothing store.
On December 23, 2021, Valentina was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother at a Burlington store in North Hollywood when she was struck by a bullet that went through the dressing room wall. This occurred during a police response to an incident where a man attacked two women with a bike lock; Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired his weapon three times, resulting in the death of Orellana-Peralta as well as the suspect.
The lawsuit, filed by Valentina's parents, claims wrongful death, negligence, and emotional distress, alleging that the LAPD failed to adequately train and supervise its officers. Valentina's mother, Soledad Peralta, described a harrowing moment in which she held her dying daughter and felt her body go limp.
“Valentina had her entire life in front of her, and it was taken in an instant due to reckless decisions made by the very people who were sworn to protect her,” said Nick Rowley, representing the family. “We intend to hold LAPD fully accountable for taking an innocent young woman’s life.”
The LAPD's investigation concluded that while Jones was justified in firing once, the subsequent shots were deemed out of policy. During this investigation, Jones expressed that he believed someone inside the store was shooting and mistook the bike lock for a gun.
The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for police accountability in similar incidents. The city attorney’s office, which represents the LAPD, has not responded to requests for comments regarding the ongoing trial.
