LAPD Wrongful Death Trial Commences Over Fatal Shooting of Teenager
A wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Police Department for an officer's fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl inside a clothing store is scheduled to begin trial on Wednesday. The case centres on the tragic death of Valentina Orellana-Peralta, who was struck by a bullet while shopping with her mother just before Christmas in 2021.
Details of the Incident at the Burlington Store
On 23 December 2021, Valentina Orellana-Peralta was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother, Soledad Peralta, at a Burlington store located in the San Fernando valley's North Hollywood neighbourhood. The outing turned catastrophic when a bullet pierced through a dressing room wall, striking the teenager. Police officers had been responding to emergency calls after a man wielding a bike lock attacked two women within the building.
As armed officers navigated through the store, Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr discharged his rifle three times. The shots resulted in the deaths of both the assailant and the innocent 14-year-old girl, who was hidden from view in the dressing area.
Lawsuit Allegations and Family's Anguish
The lawsuit, initiated by the girl's parents, asserts claims of wrongful death, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. It vividly describes how Soledad Peralta "felt her daughter's body go limp and watched helplessly as her daughter died while still in her arms".
Furthermore, the legal action contends that the LAPD failed to provide adequate training and supervision for the responding officers. It alleges the department "fostered an environment that allowed and permitted this shooting to occur".
Nick Rowley, the attorney representing the Orellana-Peralta family, emphasised the profound loss. "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," he stated. "We intend to hold LAPD fully accountable for taking an innocent young woman's life."
Oversight Findings and Officer's Account
The Los Angeles Police Commission, which serves as a civilian oversight board, concluded in 2022 that Officer Jones was justified in firing his initial shot. However, it determined that his two subsequent shots were out of policy. In contrast, the then police chief, Michel Moore, had previously found in his own review that all three shots were unjustified.
During proceedings before the LAPD's use of force review board, Jones explained his actions. He testified that he believed someone inside the store was shooting people and mistakenly identified the bike lock the man was holding as a firearm. Additionally, he incorrectly assumed that a wall behind the man was an exterior brick wall, when in reality it concealed the women's dressing rooms where Valentina and her mother were located.
Legal Context and Precedents
The trial unfolds against a backdrop of significant settlements in police killing cases across the United States. Notably, attorney Nick Rowley recently secured a $30 million settlement from the city of San Diego for the killing of 16-year-old Konoa Wilson. This figure represents one of the largest settlements in U.S. history for a police killing case, surpassing the $27 million agreement reached by the city of Minneapolis in the lawsuit over the death of George Floyd.
The Los Angeles city attorney's office, which is representing the LAPD in this matter, has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the impending trial.
