LAPD releases video of man attacking customers inside store, 14-year-old girl dies from stray bullet
Cover image: Valentina Orellana-Peralta (GoFundMe) with Daniel Elena-Lopez inset (LAPD)
On December 27, the LAPD released a video showing a deranged man running amuck in the North Hollywood Burlington Coat Factory store on December 23. That man, 24-year-old Daniel Elena-Lopez, went into the store located in the 12100 block of Victory Boulevard and was armed with a heavy bicycle lock attached to a bicycle chain that he used to terrorize and attack customers inside the store.
After police arrived on the scene, the attacker was shot dead. Tragically, an innocent 14-year-old girl hiding inside one of the store’s dressing rooms, also died when a bullet fired by police ricocheted and went through the dressing room wall. That stray bullet killed the young girl, Valentina Orellana-Peralta.
The LAPD video that was released yesterday, “includes bodycam video and CCTV video of the incident, along with several 911 calls and a description from LAPD Captain Stacy Spell of both the events leading up to the shooting and the shooting itself,” according to a report from MSN.
Police were initially called to the scene around 11:45 a.m. on December 23 responding to a radio call for an Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Progress at the Burlington Coat Factory. While enroute to the location, officers received multiple radio calls from the same location that there was a possible shooting in progress and that there were individuals sheltering in place.
The video released by the LAPD begins with one of the 9-1-1 calls made from the store:
“I have a hostile customer in my store attacking other customers,” said one caller, who can be heard yelling, “Evacuate the building!”
In surveillance video footage, you can see the suspect, who is seen walking with a bike and a metal item, which appears to be a bike chain, walking into the store and taking the escalator to the second floor.
At one point, he leaves the store and comes back through the front door. The suspect is later seen grabbing a customer, knocking the person to the ground and hitting them with the object.
The video also shows the moments when officers opened fire. A portion of the video shows the area near the dressing room. ~ ABC7
As the officers arrived at the location, they began a search for the suspect. During that search, officers located a female who was suffering from various injuries and bleeding. They encountered Daniel Elena-Lopez a short distance away and an officer involved shooting occurred. Elena-Lopez was struck by gunfire and taken into custody.
“The woman who was being assaulted just prior to the shooting was taken to the hospital with what officials described as moderate to serious injuries to her head, face and arms,” according to MSN.
Fire department paramedics responded and determined Elena-Lopez deceased at scene. One victim was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained as a result of the attack.
Unbeknownst to the officers, 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta was in a dressing room directly behind the suspect’s location and out of the officers’ view. She was in the changing area with her mother when the officers encountered Daniel Elena-Lopez and the officer involved shooting occurred.
During a search for additional suspects and victims, officers found the girl and discovered she had been struck by gunfire. She was pronounced dead at the scene. At this preliminary phase of the investigation, it is believed that victim was struck by one of the rounds fired by an officer at the suspect. ~ LAPD
LAPD Police Chief Michel R. Moore also commented:
“This chaotic incident resulting in the death of an innocent child is tragic and devastating for everyone involved. I am profoundly sorry for the loss of this young girl’s life and I know there are no words that can relieve the unimaginable pain for the family. My commitment is to conduct a thorough, complete and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led up to this tragedy and provide the family and public with as much information as possible. I have directed the release of the critical incident video by Monday, December 27th, which will include the 9-1-1 calls, radio transmissions, body worn video and any CCTV and other evidence gathered at this preliminary stage.”
A Justice For Valentina campaign, as well as a GoFundMe account, has been created on behalf of the victim’s family.
A link to the video released by the LAPD can be found here – and is also available for viewing below.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
