Latest news with #WestlakeDistrict
CBS News
15 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Suspect arrested for allegedly beating 61-year-old transgender woman in Westlake District
Los Angeles police arrested a 30-year-old man accused of assaulting a 61-year-old transgender businesswoman in the Westlake District. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Samuel Parros on May 27 and booked him for assault with a deadly weapon. He is one of three people who allegedly attacked Sabrina De La Pena at her shop several times in the past two months. "They punched me. They kicked me. I tried to go outside, they pushed me inside," De La Pena said in an interview with CBS News Los Angeles. "I received more than 50 punches. After that, I started screaming, and when nobody was coming, I said OK and asked God why?" The series of attacks began on April 8, when one of Parros's alleged accomplices tried to flirt with De La Pena, according to police. Detectives said the unnamed male suspect left the store after she denied his advances. He allegedly returned shortly later, sexually assaulted De La Pena and threatened to kill her when he discovered she was a transgender woman, according to LAPD. LAPD officers released four pictures of one of the suspects accused of beating a transgender woman on multiple occasions. KCAL News Detectives said he returned multiple times with more suspects and continued to beat her. In three separate instances, the group of men allegedly beat De La Pena with a skateboard, pepper-sprayed her and threw an unknown liquid on her while another suspect tried to taser her, according to police. De La Pena said she has been attacked six times since April. She has owned two shops in the Westlake District for 40 years and has never had a problem until now. "I need to move from this area because, I can't no more," De La Pena said. The latest beating happened on May 31, according to police. LAPD said De La Pena sustained serious injuries. Parros was already in custody during the alleged beating. Police are searching for the two remaining suspects. Police arrested Suspect 2, Samuel Parros, on May 27 but have not located Suspect 3. LAPD Potential victims or witnesses who have information about the incident or the suspects are urged to contact Rampart Division Robbery Detectives at (213) 484-3495. Outside of business hours, LAPD asks tips to be directed to 1(877) 527-3247. Those wishing to stay anonymous can contact LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 222-8477 or fill out a form at
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Crews in Westlake District contain fire at commercial building weeks months after previous blaze
Crews put out a fire at a commercial building in the Westlake District on Tuesday morning, weeks after a blaze at the same location. Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responded to the 1300 block of Shatto Street around 2:24 a.m. When crews arrived, they found a vacant and boarded one-story commercial building, a former private school, fully engulfed in flames. In just about 33 minutes, about 49 firefighters were able to put out the fire and stop extension to any adjacent structures, fire officials said. No injuries were reported during the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The LAFD said on March 20, crews also responded to the same scene for another fire.
Yahoo
a day 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.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Suspects wanted for allegedly attacking transgender woman again, police say
Police are asking for the public's help in finding a group of men who allegedly assaulted a 61-year-old transgender woman at her Westlake District business multiple times since the start of April. According to Los Angeles police, the alleged attacks began on April 8, when one of the suspects entered the victim's store and tried to flirt with her. When she denied his advances, he left the store but later returned. "The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and discovered she was a transgender woman," said LAPD's press release in April. "The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim." Since then, police say that the same suspect has returned to the business with additional suspects and "committed hate crimes against the victim." Police say in the string of attacks, the victim was beaten with a skateboard, pepper sprayed and stunned with a taser. LAPD Officers said that the latest alleged attack happened on Saturday night at around 11:40 p.m., when the suspects again returned to the store and assaulted the woman, leaving her with serious injuries. Investigators believe that there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them at (213) 484-3495 or call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.
Yahoo
3 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.
