Los Angeles has been shocked by a series of brutal attacks against Sabrina de la Peña, a 61-year-old transgender woman and Westlake District business owner, which authorities are investigating as hate crimes. Multiple media outlets, including ABC7 and KTLA, have reported on the distressing incidents that began on April 8, drawing attention to the severity of the events and the victim's plea for help.
According to the reports, the suspect first entered de la Peña's store and attempted to flirt with her, becoming aggressive and ultimately violent when she rejected him. After he discovered she was transgender, his actions escalated to multiple attacks over several days, involving not only him but additional suspects, assaulting de la Peña with objects like a skateboard, pepper spray, and an unknown liquid. KTLA detailed that the victim was sexually assaulted and repeatedly threatened with death, while ABC7 emphasized the suspect's return to de la Peña's store with two other men to continue their attacks. Each of these media outlets provided a disturbing glimpse into the recurring violence faced by the victim, highlighting the fear she now carries with her each day.
The CBS Los Angeles report added another layer to the horrifying attacks, mentioning how the Los Angeles Police Department is actively seeking to identify the three men accused, believing that there may be additional, unreported victims. The department released photos of the suspects and is urging the community to come forward with any information that could lead to their identification and capture.
"I want to ask the community to help me find those guys, help the police catch those guys. If not, they’re going to kill me," de la Peña told KTLA, expressing her distress and the grave nature of the threats against her life. De la Peña, who has run her business in the community for three decades, has been compelled to change her operational hours in the wake of these incidents, closing her store at 9:00 p.m. instead of the usual midnight, to mitigate the threat to her safety.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s official news release echoes the call for assistance from the public, asking anyone with information to reach out to Rampart Division Robbery Detectives at 213-484-3495, or to contact the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). The department also points to the "P3 Tips" mobile application as an avenue for tips, highlighting the importance of community involvement in apprehending the suspects and preventing further crimes of this nature.
