LOS ANGELES — A wrongful-death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department is set to begin trial, stemming from the tragic fatal shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta in a clothing store. The incident occurred on December 23, 2021, while she was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother at a Burlington store in North Hollywood.
Orellana-Peralta was struck by a bullet from Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. who fired his weapon during an incident where police were called to respond to a man attacking women with a bike lock. The lawsuit, filed by her parents, contends that the LAPD is liable for wrongful death, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress for their actions under pressure.
The mother, Soledad Peralta, described a harrowing moment witnessing her daughter’s life slip away, stating, “I felt my daughter’s body go limp and watched helplessly as my daughter died while still in my arms.”
Attorney Nick Rowley represents the family and emphasized that Valentina had her entire life ahead of her, taken away due to what he claims were reckless actions by the police who were meant to protect her. He stated that they intend to hold the LAPD fully accountable for the devastating loss of an innocent young girl.
The LAPD's failure to properly train the officers and the broader culture allowing such incidents are key elements of the lawsuit. Last year, the Los Angeles Police Commission ruled that Jones was justified in firing his first shot but deemed the subsequent two shots out of policy. The former Police Chief also concluded that all shots fired by Jones were unjustified.
Currently, there has been no comment from the LAPD or the city attorney’s office as the case unfolds in court. Valentina's case draws parallels to other high-profile police shooting cases, underlining the ongoing discussions regarding police accountability and reform.
