A Traumatic Saga: Trans Woman Assaulted in Westlake District
Series of alleged transphobic assaults targeted MacArthur Park shop owner
In the tight-knit community of Westlake, a long-standing convenience store owner, Sabrina de la Peña, has been a beacon of warmth and kindness for nearly three decades. However, the peaceful facade of her business across MacArthur Park has recently been marred by a series of gruesome attacks.
For 61-year-old De la Peña, a transgender woman who immigrated from El Salvador 35 years ago, her store was more than just a place of business – it was a sanctuary where everyone was welcome. But her sense of safety was shattered last month when an unidentified man, now wanted by the police, subjected her to a hate-fueled ordeal.
Recalling the ordeal, De la Peña shares, "I usually deal with folks who come to bother me. Some are on drugs, others are just having a bad day. But they usually listen or apologize when I ask them to leave. But this guy... he hurt me like never before."
The incidents began on April 8, when the suspect, under the guise of a typical customer, purchased water and began to flirt with De la Peña. After politely declining, she was assaulted, sexually attacked, and pepper-sprayed. De la Peña believes that the motive for the attacks was her gender identity.
"It's a transphobic crime more than anything," she admits, her voice quivering. "As long as the authorities don't take action and politics remains unchanged, we will continue to suffer these kinds of atrocities."
Just the next day, April 9, the suspect returned with two accomplices, luring De la Peña outside and brutally beating her with a skateboard. Security footage captured the shocking incident. The main attacker took a break before returning again on April 13, followed by assaults with pepper spray on April 16 and 19.
De la Peña, who lives in the store's back area, now opens her store only during the daytime due to the drop in sales and the overwhelming fear that grips her. "My life has changed drastically," she laments. "For almost 30 years, I felt safe. Now, I am consumed by fear and panic."
The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a call for public assistance to identify the suspects and has stepped up patrols in the area. However, De la Peña is disheartened by the slow response of the authorities.
Meanwhile, the LGBT community in LA is urging everyone to stay vigilant, reminding everyone of the importance of standing together in the face of hate. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Rampart Division Robbery detectives at 213-484-3495 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-8477.
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[Source: LAPD press release, interviews with Sabrina de la Peña][Enrichment Data: Suspected Hate Crime Attacks on Transgender Woman in Westlake]
- The gruesome attacks on Sabrina de la Peña, a transgender woman and long-time store owner in Westlake, have marred the peace of MacArthur Park, a once troubled area that is slowly transforming.
- De la Peña, who immigrated from El Salvador 35 years ago, believes the motive for the attacks was transphobic, as she has been subjected to hate-fueled crimes.
- The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a call for public assistance to identify the suspects and has stepped up patrols in the area, but De la Peña is disheartened by the slow response of the authorities.
- The LGBT community in LA is urging everyone to stay vigilant, reminding everyone of the importance of standing together in the face of hate.
- De la Peña lives in the store's back area and now opens her store only during daytime due to the fear and drop in sales, dramatically changing her life after nearly 30 years of feeling safe.
- General news and crime outlets in California are reporting on the series of events, with crime-and-justice headlines making the rounds, highlighting the rising issue of transphobic crimes in the city of Los Angeles.
