Latest news with #SabrinaDeLaPeña
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Transgender woman in L.A. begs for police help after 6 violent assaults
A 61-year-old transgender woman in L.A.'s Westlake District has endured repeated violent beatings by several suspects who police say continue to return, most recently leaving her badly injured and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her. Sabrina de la Peña has run a second-floor convenience store in the Westlake District for the last 30 years. Since an April 8 encounter in her store where one of the suspects sexually assaulted her, learned she was a transgender woman and threatened to kill her, she says the same man, as well as others, have brutally attacked her six times. Surveillance footage captured one of the hard-to-watch assaults where the soon to be 62-year-old was beaten with a skateboard, pepper sprayed, doused with an unknown substance and dragged onto the balcony outside her store while being attacked and trying to defend herself. 'I can't live without thinking every day, 'What time they're going to appear again and hit me,'' De la Peña, who believes her gender identity is why the men continue to assault her, said. Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department, who are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects, say the most recent attack occurred May 31 at around 11:30 p.m. In surveillance footage of the latest attack, De la Peña's screams for help can be heard from outside her store as two male suspects rush through the door, throwing brutal punches at the woman. Woman, 64, in U.S. legally for 50 years detained by ICE for 3 months De la Peña told KTLA's Rachel Menitoff that this time her attackers, who kicked her to the ground, beat her, badly split open her lip and stole $30,000 cash from her, brought a gun. 'He tried shooting me twice, but the gun didn't shoot,' she said. A security guard came to her defense and chased the two men off, but De la Peña said she recognized at least one of them. 'I recognize the guy,' she said. 'I know it's the same people that always come.' Police confirmed to KTLA that they believe the same suspects continue to attack the 61-year-old shopkeeper, with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell expected to address the investigation at a news conference on Tuesday. De la Peña said she needs more protection from police and that at her age, it becomes difficult and more expensive to simply walk away from her livelihood and move. 'This is the sixth attack. Believe me. When are you going to do something for me? What are you waiting for? You're waiting for them to kill me,' she asked. 'They tried to kill me.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘They're trying to kill me': Transgender woman in L.A. violently assaulted
A transgender woman violently assaulted by three male suspects earlier this year in a brutal hate crime was reportedly attacked by the same men over the weekend, officials announced. The latest incident, according to a news release from the L.A. Police Department, occurred Saturday at around 11:30 p.m. and left the 61-year-old victim, Sabrina de la Peña, seriously injured. De la Peña, who has operated a second-floor convenience store in L.A.'s Westlake District for the last 30 years, spoke to KTLA after the initial violence on April 8. 'I was screaming for help, but nobody around giving help to me,' she said in an interview. In that instance, police said the 61-year-old rejected the advances of one of the suspects, who later returned to her store, sexually assaulted her and discovered she was a transgender woman. 'The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim,' police said at that time. The same suspect returned several more times with two other suspects and committed hate crimes against De la Peña. In hard to watch surveillance footage of the attacks, one of the men hides just outside her door with a skateboard before rushing in and, according to investigators, brutally striking De la Peña with it. 'I was screaming for help, but nobody around giving help to me,' De la Peña told KTLA. 'He take me out to the alleyway and he start beating me outside.' Rooftop homeless encampment in L.A. terrorizing doctor's office The same suspect is then seen dragging her onto the balcony of the building, violently beating her as she tries to defend herself while another suspect looks on. In other instances, police said the suspects pepper sprayed De la Peña, doused her with an unknown liquid and tried to stun her with a Taser. Terrified and distraught, the 61-year-told KTLA in April that she believes the men are trying to kill her. 'The Los Angeles Police Department is urgently requesting the public's assistance in identifying and apprehending the suspects,' the release stated. 'Members of the public are encouraged to review the [suspects' photographs] and contact LAPD Rampart Division Detectives at 213-484-3495 with any information that may assist in the case.' Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
