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39-Year-Old Man Charged with 2003 Murder of Woman in Hollywood
Victor Perez pleaded not guilty to killing Rosalba Acosta when he was 17 years old, and is now being prosecuted as a juvenile.
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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Victor Perez, now 39 years old, has been charged with the 2003 murder of Rosalba Acosta in Hollywood. Perez was 17 at the time of the shooting, so he is being prosecuted as a juvenile, at least for now. Detectives say old-fashioned police work, including talking to informants and Perez himself, led to his arrest in 2022 for the 19-year-old cold case.
Why it matters
This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old crimes, especially when the suspect was a minor at the time. It also raises questions about juvenile justice and whether Perez should be tried as an adult given the severity of the alleged crime.
The details
Rosalba Acosta, 42, was shot and killed in 2003 after Thanksgiving dinner with her family in Hollywood. Her son Louis testified that he saw a car pull up behind their truck and someone lean out the front passenger window and open fire, shattering the rear windshield. A single bullet struck Rosalba in the head, killing her. Perez allegedly confessed to an informant in 2009 that he was the shooter, saying he thought the truck contained gang members, but wasn't arrested until 2022 on an unrelated charge.
- The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. on November 28, 2003.
- In 2009, an informant told police that Perez had confessed to the shooting.
- Perez was taken into custody on an unrelated charge in 2022 and interviewed about Rosalba's killing.
The players
Victor Perez
A 39-year-old man who was 17 at the time of the 2003 shooting and is now being prosecuted as a juvenile for Rosalba Acosta's murder.
Rosalba Acosta
A 42-year-old woman who was shot and killed in 2003 while driving her family home from Thanksgiving dinner in Hollywood.
Louis Acosta
Rosalba's son, who was in the truck when his mother was shot and killed.
Liza Pauley
Rosalba's daughter, who moved home after her mother's death to help raise her younger brother.
Jose Acosta
Rosalba's husband, who was in the truck when she was killed.
What they’re saying
“We tried to move on the best we could, and as far as someone having to pay for what they did, it was an afterthought.”
— Louis Acosta, Rosalba's son (Los Angeles Times)
“He made an adult decision. He didn't just kill my mom. He almost wiped out a whole family.”
— Louis Acosta, Rosalba's son (Los Angeles Times)
What’s next
The next step in the case is a transfer hearing where prosecutors will present arguments for why Perez should be tried as an adult rather than a juvenile.
The takeaway
This cold case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old crimes, especially when the suspect was a minor at the time. It raises complex questions about juvenile justice and whether Perez should face adult charges given the severity of the alleged crime.
