Prosecutors in California said they will not pursue criminal charges against a Los Angeles Police Department officer in the death of a 14-year-old girl, a development that the teen's family called a "slap in the face," according to a report.
Valentina Orellana Peralta was fatally shot when officers responded to an "active shooter" at a Burlington Coat Factory in Los Angeles on Dec. 23, 2021, and fired on Daniel Elena Lopez, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Elena Lopez, who had been attacking customers in the store, was found next to a woman covered in blood and holding an object in his hand.
One of the rounds fired by an LAPD officer ricocheted off the floor and went through the wall of a dressing room, killing Valentina.
Calling the case "challenging," Bonta said his "heart goes out to the family" of Valetina, who "tragically lost her life and whose only involvement in this incident was by being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
After a "thorough investigation," the attorney general concluded that "the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer involved acted without the intent to defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury."
"No further action will be taken in this case," Bonta said in a statement linking to a 69-page report on the police-involved shooting.
The officer who fired the shot was not identified.
Valentina's family said they will continue to pursue justice.
"This is a crushing and devastating response from the AG," Sennett Devermont, a spokesperson for the family, told NBC 4 Los Angeles. "This avoids all oversight, all accountability that needs to be had."
The girl's family has filed a civil suit against the LAPD.
"This is a slap in their face for what is already a living nightmare," Devermont said. "No family should have to go through this."
