Photo: David McNew / Getty Images
For: Drafting
Sunday, September 29
She is Latina, the little girl who lost her life to a stray bullet in Hollywood
Authorities are investigating a shooting that took place Thursday in North Hollywood, leaving the suspect in the assault dead, but also a girl who was hit by a stray bullet.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office on Friday identified the girl as Valentina Orellana-Peralta of 14 years. The suspect’s name has not yet been released.
The shooting occurred outside the Burlington Coat Factory store located on Laurel Canyon and Victory boulevards in the 11: 44 on Thursday morning, after a call was received at 911 from a person who reported hearing an argument inside the store and gunshots, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said.
“As officers responded, they arrived at this location and a search for a suspect began,” said LAPD Capt. Stacy Spell. “The officers found an individual who was in the process of assaulting another person and started a shooting that involved an officer.”
The suspect was fatally shot, the officer said.
LAPD Deputy Director Dominic Choi explained that, during a subsequent search, police found a hole in a wall and found that on the other side was a dressing room.
“We were able to locate a girl from 14 years that she was found dead in that dressing room, “said Choi. “Preliminarily, we believe that that bullet was from an officer.”
Orellana-Peralta was in the dressing room with her mother trying on dresses for a quinceañera when was hit by the bullet, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing information from an LAPD source.
Choi said it was unclear if the suspect was armed.
“We did not find a weapon,” added Choi, ensuring that a thorough investigation was being carried out.
What they did find was a very heavy steel or metal padlock which the suspect used to attack a woman. She was taken to a hospital in an unknown condition, but video footage showed her being carried on a stretcher to an ambulance with a bloody head.
“This chaotic incident that resulted in the death of an innocent girl is tragic and devastating for everyone involved,” LAPD chief Michel Moore, who was out of town with his family, but was briefed on, said in a statement. the shooting.
“I deeply regret the loss of this young woman’s life and I know that there are no words that can alleviate the unimaginable pain of the family. My commitment is to carry out a thorough, complete and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy and to provide the family and the public with as much information as possible. ”
Moore added that video of the critical incident from the scene will be released Monday. This will include calls to 911, radio broadcasts, body camera video, and any surveillance video collected.
The LAPD is working closely with the Crisis Response Team, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Area Representative Councilwoman Monica Rodríguez, to assist the Orellana-Peralta family.
The case is under review by the State Department of Justice, announced California Attorney General Rob Bonta. This is due to the rules established by a new law that went into effect on July 1 and requires his office to independently investigate all fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by police.