Los Angeles, California – California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that no criminal charges will be filed against a Los Angeles Police Department officer involved in the fatal shooting of a teenage girl inside a Burlington store in North Hollywood in December 2021.
Valentina Orellana-Peralta, 14, tragically lost her life while trying on holiday dresses with her mother when she was struck by a bullet fired by the officer as he attempted to apprehend an assault suspect who had entered the store.
Despite the heartbreaking outcome, the Attorney General’s office, which conducted an investigation into the incident, determined that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal prosecution of the officer. Bonta emphasized the challenging nature of dealing with the loss of two lives in this case and expressed his condolences to Valentina’s family.
The incident unfolded as police responded to reports of a man armed with a metal bike lock who had been involved in a series of assaults. The officer fired a shot at the suspect, which ricocheted and struck Valentina in a dressing room, leading to her untimely death.
A video released by the LAPD shed light on the events leading up to the shooting, showing the suspect attacking a woman before officers intervened. The footage also captured the sound of gunshots as the suspect was taken into custody, ultimately dying at the scene.
While the Police Commission ruled in 2022 that the officer violated department policy in the shooting, citing an inaccurate assessment of the threat posed by the suspect, no criminal charges will be pursued based on the evidence presented by the Attorney General’s office.
Moving forward, recommendations have been made for the LAPD to enhance communication and response protocols in high-stress scenarios to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Valentina, a student at High Tech Los Angeles Charter School, had recently excelled in her math and physics exams. Her family has since filed a lawsuit against the city, seeking justice for the loss of their beloved daughter.