Full Breakdown
Jury Finds Los Angeles Not Liable in 2021 Burlington Store Shooting
5/8/2026, 7:18:59 AM
Verdict and Core Facts
On May 7, 2026 a Los Angeles County jury voted 9-3 to find the City of Los Angeles not negligent in the wrongful-death suit over the Dec 23, 2021 shooting at a North Hollywood Burlington store. Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired three rifle rounds at a suspect wielding a bike lock; one bullet ricocheted off the floor and entered a dressing-room wall, killing 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta.
Background & Context
The shooting triggered multiple reviews. The LAPD Use-of-Force Review Board (2022) deemed the first shot justified but the next two “out of policy.” Former chief Michel Moore later called all three shots unjustified. In April 2024 the California Attorney General’s Office concluded Jones acted in self-defense and declined criminal charges. The family’s civil suit, filed in 2022, sought over $100 million, alleging wrongful death, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Timeline
- Dec 23, 2021: Shooting; suspect Daniel Elena-Lopez killed, Orellana-Peralta fatally wounded.
- Jan 4, 2022: Body-camera video released.
- 2022: Lawsuit filed; Police Commission finds first shot within policy, later two not.
- 2024: Attorney General declines criminal prosecution.
- May 7, 2026: Jury returns not-liable verdict.
Official Statements & Responses
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto expressed sympathy for the family while affirming the jury’s correct decision and noting the city stands by the officer, who will “carry the burden of Valentina’s death with him for many years.” The Attorney General’s office said the evidence did not meet the criminal standard of proof and recommended improvements to departmental communication.
Criticism & Opposition
Family attorneys argued the officer’s use of deadly force was negligent, stressing that “officers can’t shoot someone because they possibly have a weapon.” Reform activists demanded Jones’s termination and broader changes to LAPD use-of-force policies.
On-the-Ground Reports
911 calls recorded a store employee describing a man attacking customers with a bike lock and a witness hearing “a guy with a gun.” Body-camera footage later showed the suspect beating a woman before officers arrived and the ensuing gunfire.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Police Commission found two of the officer’s shots violated policy, while former chief Michel Moore deemed all three unjustified. The Attorney General’s self-defense finding contrasts with the commission’s policy breach, leaving unanswered questions about departmental accountability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “the most devastating loss of my career” — Nick Rowley, family attorney
- “You have fractions of a second to react. This is – in my mind – a life-or-death situation. I’ve got to save this lady’s life while protecting my own life,” — Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr.
- “Officers can’t shoot someone because they possibly have a weapon,” — Haytham Faraj, attorney
- “I can’t understand this one. I don’t get it,” — Nick Rowley, Instagram statement
- “Absolutely not,” — Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr., responding to whether he was “too excited” to fire
Why It Matters
The verdict underscores the high bar for municipal liability in police shootings and may influence future civil suits. The Attorney General’s call for better communication could spur policy changes, while reform groups press for broader use-of-force reforms.
