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LAPD Officer Cleared In Store Shooting That Killed A Man And A Teen Girl
A screenshot captures part of the scene inside a North Hollywood Burlington Coat factory on Dec. 23, 2021, where LAPD officials shot and killed a man who'd allegedly committed an assault and a 14-year-old girl who was struck by gunfire that went through a dressing room wall.
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Courtesy LAPD
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Topline:
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday that he declined to file criminal charges against the Los Angeles police officer who shot a man he incorrectly believed was armed with a gun inside a North Hollywood retail store, inadvertently killing a 14-year-old girl who was hiding inside with her mother.
The backstory: Police were responding to reports of an active shooter on Dec. 23, 2021, when they found Daniel Elena Lopez standing above a bloodied woman and holding a U-shaped bike lock. Officer William Jones Jr. shot Lopez, killing him.
The shooting was captured on body camera video.
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Bonta concluded that when the officer opened fire, he "reasonably believed" Lopez was holding a gun. Bonta’s Department of Justice said the evidence “strongly suggests that Officer Jones believed that Mr. Elena Lopez was about to shoot him or a nearby civilian when he shot Mr. Elena Lopez.”
The young girl: One of Jones’ bullets ricocheted off the floor and pierced a nearby dressing room wall. It struck and killed Valentina Orellana Peralta, who was hiding inside the room with her mother.
“Valentina and her mother went to Los Angeles from Santiago, Chile to be reunited with Valentina's older sister, and with the goal of a better life in California just months before her death,” according to a GoFundMe page set up at the time of the killing.
The girl’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD.
Bonta's statement: The state attorney general said the case was "particularly challenging."
“Any loss of life is a tragedy, and my heart goes out especially to the family of Valentina Orellana Peralta, who tragically lost her life and whose only involvement in this incident was by being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Bonta said.
Department of Justice recommendation: “LAPD should consider updating their communication training bulletin and any related training to account for the type of situation presented during this event,” the department said.
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