Story perspectives

Jury Clears LAPD in Teen Shooting; Officer’s Shots Violated Policy

5/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

9-3 jury cleared the Los Angeles Police Department of liability for the Dec 23 2021 shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta.
Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired AR-15 rounds, killing Daniel Lopez and ricocheting into the girl.
A police commission found two of the officer’s shots violated department policy, the jury clearing the department nonetheless.
California’s Attorney General and Justice Department declined criminal charges, saying evidence did not show lack of lawful self-defense.

History

Historical Context

After the 1992 acquittal of four LAPD officers sparked the Los Angeles riots that left 63 dead and over $1 billion in damage, the department faced another high-profile exoneration in 2024 when a jury cleared officers in the 2021 Valentina Orellana-Peralta shooting. The recurring verdicts fuel calls for federal oversight of LAPD practices.

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Story summary

9-3 jury cleared the Los Angeles Police Department of liability for the Dec 23 2021 shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta.
Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. fired AR-15 rounds, killing Daniel Lopez and ricocheting into the girl.
A police commission found two of the officer’s shots violated department policy, the jury clearing the department nonetheless.
California’s Attorney General and Justice Department declined criminal charges, saying evidence did not show lack of lawful self-defense.

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