In a tweet from the LAPD, they identified one of their officers as a suspect in the deadly shooting of 15-year old girl in North Hollywood on Thursday. The officer is now off duty and not permitted to return until further notice.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (CBSLA) — The identify of the officer involved in the shooting at a North Hollywood Burlington shop that killed an assault suspect and a 14-year-old girl who was injured by a stray bullet has been revealed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officer William Jones, assigned to the North Hollywood Division, is the officer in question.
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On December 23, 2021, Los Angeles police officers respond to a gunshot at a Burlington shop in North Hollywood, California. (CBSLA)
The youngster was shot by a stray gunshot that went through a dressing room wall, according to Los Angeles police. Valentina Orellana-Peralta, 14, was recognized by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office on Friday.
The officer involved was named as William Jones, a police officer II assigned to the North Hollywood Division, by LAPD on Thursday afternoon.
According to authorities, a lady was attacked by the perpetrator and was transported to the hospital with moderate to severe injuries.
According to police, the incident began when officers were sent to the Burlington shop at Laurel Canyon and Victory boulevards at 11:45 a.m. in response to a 911 call from a person who claimed to have heard fighting inside the store and bullets fired.
According to LAPD Capt. Stacy Spell, officers got further reports of a probable active shooter while responding to the call.
“As the cops responded, they arrived at this place and started searching for a suspect,” Spell said. “While performing that search for a suspect, the cops came upon a person who was attacking another, and an officer-involved gunshot happened.”
According to authorities, the suspect was fatally shot. During a later search, police discovered a hole in a section of drywall in front of the cop or officers who opened fire on the subject, according to LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi.
23rd of December, 2021. (CBSLA)
Choi said, “We walked behind it (the wall) and it turned out to be a dressing room up there.” “We were able to track down a 14-year-old girl who had been discovered dead in that dressing room.”
“Preliminarily, we think the bullet was an officer’s round,” Choi stated when asked if the girl was shot by cops.
It was originally unclear if the adolescent girl’s parents were there at the time of her death, or whether she was hiding in the changing room when she was murdered by a stray gunshot. The victim’s mother was in the dressing room with her daughter as she tried on clothes for her quinceaneras, according to an LAPD source who spoke to the Los Angeles Times.
When authorities arrived, a lady was being attacked by the offender and was brought to a hospital in uncertain condition. She was seen being placed into an ambulance on video footage from the site, awake but bleeding.
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It was unclear if the individual was armed, according to Choi.
Choi said, “We did not discover a gun.” “However, it won’t be conclusive until the coroner arrives and we do a thorough search of the suspect.” However, we have yet to uncover a weapon.”
Officers discovered a “steel or metal cable lock, a very hefty lock” beside the suspect, he added, which might have been used in the attack.
A Burlington employee, who did not want to be recognized, told CBSLA that she had just begun working there a week before. She said she saw the guy assaulting his first victim.
“I was attempting to get other customers to the exit, and the suspect was waiting below,” the employee said. “He assaulted the client in front of me and beat her with a bike chain.”
Just two days before Christmas, a tragic shooting occurred. Concerned relatives waited outside the shop seeking updates on those inside.
“We’re still in the early stages of this inquiry,” Spell added. “We’re still looking at surveillance footage, talking to witnesses, and looking at body worn video.”
Families in mourning flocked to the shop in search of answers.
Choi described the chain of events as “tragic and terrible.”
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division and the Los Angeles County Inspector General’s Office were also on the site investigating, according to Choi. Investigators have not yet analyzed security camera footage from the business or video from the cops’ body-worn cameras, according to Choi.
The event is also being investigated by the Southern California Police Shooting Investigation Team of the California Department of Justice.
In reaction to the sad incident, Burlington issued a statement.
“As a consequence of the horrible tragedy that happened today at our North Hollywood, CA store, our hearts are heavy at Burlington.” The safety and well-being of our customers and staff is always our first concern. We are cooperating with authorities in this inquiry.”
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LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore, who was out of town at the time of the shooting, made the following statement:
“For everyone concerned, this chaotic occurrence culminating in the loss of an innocent kid is heartbreaking and devastating.” I am very sorry for the loss of this little girl’s life, and I understand that no words can ease the family’s unspeakable grief. My commitment is to undertake a comprehensive, complete, and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, and to disclose as much information as possible to the family and the general public. “By Monday, December 27th, I have instructed the release of the crucial event footage, which will include 9-1-1 calls, radio broadcasts, body worn video, and any CCTV and other evidence obtained at this early stage.”
