Trial Begins in Lawsuit Over Fatal LAPD Shooting of 14-Year-Old Girl

Valentina Orellana-Peralta was killed in a clothing store in 2021 when an officer's gunfire went through a dressing room wall.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:39am

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A wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Police Department is set to begin trial over an officer's fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl, Valentina Orellana-Peralta, in a clothing store in 2021. The lawsuit alleges the LAPD failed to adequately train and supervise the responding officers, leading to the tragic incident.

Why it matters

This case has drawn national attention and sparked outrage over the use of deadly force by police, particularly in situations involving civilians unrelated to the original incident. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for police accountability and policies around the use of force.

The details

On December 23, 2021, Valentina Orellana-Peralta was shopping for Christmas clothes with her mother at a Burlington store in North Hollywood when she was struck and killed by a stray bullet fired by an LAPD officer. Police were responding to calls about a man attacking two women in the store when Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired three shots, killing the suspect and Orellana-Peralta, who was in a nearby dressing room.

  • The incident occurred on December 23, 2021.
  • The LAPD Police Commission ruled in 2022 that one of the officer's shots was justified, but the other two were out of policy.
  • The wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Orellana-Peralta's family is set to begin trial on April 8, 2026.

The players

Valentina Orellana-Peralta

A 14-year-old girl who was fatally shot by an LAPD officer while shopping with her mother in a clothing store.

Soledad Peralta

Valentina Orellana-Peralta's mother, who witnessed her daughter's death.

Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr.

The LAPD officer who fired the shots that killed Valentina Orellana-Peralta and the suspect.

Nick Rowley

The attorney representing Valentina Orellana-Peralta's family in the wrongful-death lawsuit.

Michel Moore

The former LAPD Police Chief who found that all three of Officer Jones' shots were unjustified.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Nick Rowley, Attorney representing Orellana-Peralta family

“Valentina's mother Soledad Peralta 'felt her daughter's body go limp and watched helplessly as her daughter died while still in her arms,'”

— Soledad Peralta

What’s next

The trial is set to begin on April 8, 2026, where the court will determine if the LAPD is liable for Valentina Orellana-Peralta's wrongful death.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the ongoing challenges around police use of force, particularly in situations involving civilians unrelated to the original incident. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for police accountability and policies around the use of deadly force.