LAPD Officer Cleared in Shooting Death of Teenage Girl in Department Store

The California attorney general announced that the Los Angeles police officer who fatally shot 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta in a clothing store in 2021 will not face charges, despite national outrage and a rare rebuke from the LAPD's civilian oversight group. The officer's gunfire, aimed at a suspect attacking customers, also killed the teenager. The state's justice department cited "insufficient evidence" for criminal prosecution, while recommending updates to police communication training. The shooting has reignited scrutiny over the LAPD's use of deadly force, amid ongoing concerns about police accountability.