The parents of Valentina Orellana-Peralta, the 14-year-old girl who a Los Angeles Police officer killed, and Ben Crump held a press conference on Tuesday in front of LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. Both parents fought to hold back tears as they spoke.
“We heard screams, my daughter ran to lock the door to try and protect us, We sat down, held each other, and prayed when something hit my daughter, and we fell to the floor,” said Solidad Peralta, “She died in my arms. I couldn’t do anything.”
The Peraltas sought shelter in the same dressing room Valentina was trying dresses in after they heard the commotion of a man assaulting customers outside. An LAPD officer opened fire on the fleeing suspect, and one of the bullets went through the dressing room wall and struck and killed Valentina.
“To see a son or daughter die in your arms is one of the greatest pains and most profound pains that any human being can imagine," she said.
Juan Pablo Orellana, Valentina’s father, was in Chile when he received the call about his daughter's passing.
“When I got a phone call and heard that the Los Angeles Police Department had killed my daughter, my world came tumbling down on me… I don’t have words to describe what I’m going through,” said Orellana.
His daughter was excited to become an American citizen, “The only thing she wanted to do was become an American citizen. I wanted to leave this country, but she said no, this is the safest country in the world, the country of opportunities. Now you can all see my daughter was killed by the state and these assassins from the state. That’s what my daughter came here to find: death.”
During the press conference, Orellana held up a skateboard and said, “Look at it. It’s brand new, and it hasn't opened. This and other gifts…I now have to save them for her tomb.”
The Orellana-Peralata’s spoke alongside several attorneys, including Ben Crump.
“The family is completely devastated. They are still trying to get past this nightmare. Her father’s still in disbelief. He wants justice as any father would want,” said Crump. “She wants justice as any mother would want. What would you want if your baby was killed in this manner? That’s all they’re asking for,” said Crump.
The LAPD officer who fired the fatal shots has been placed on leave, and the LAPD has started their investigation into what exactly occurred.
The family were also huge Lakers fans and were excited over the possibility of seeing games together that’s never going to happen now
“I will not rest until all these criminals are behind bars,” said Orellana.
