LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Police Department for an officer’s fatal shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta is set to begin trial Wednesday.
Valentina was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother at a Burlington store in North Hollywood on December 23, 2021, when she was struck by a bullet that passed through a dressing room wall.
The police had responded to reports of a man attacking two women with a bike lock in the store. Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired his rifle three times, fatally wounding the assailant and Valentina.
The lawsuit claims wrongful death, negligence, and emotional distress, detailing how Valentina's mother, Soledad Peralta, felt her daughter die in her arms, helpless to save her.
The family’s legal representation alleges the LAPD failed to adequately train and supervise the responding officers and created an environment allowing such a tragic event to occur.
“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,” stated family lawyer Nick Rowley. “We intend to hold the LAPD fully accountable for taking an innocent young woman’s life.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which represents the LAPD, has not responded to requests for comment.
In addition to this lawsuit, the LAPD is facing broader scrutiny regarding officer training and accountability as communities worldwide demand justice in police shootings.
