A transgender woman who was violently assaulted by three male suspects in a brutal hate crime earlier this year was reportedly targeted again by the same individuals over the weekend, according to officials.
A recent event, as reported by LAPD, took place on Saturday at approximately 11:30 p.m., resulting in serious injuries to the 61-year-old victim, Sabrina de la Peña.
De la Peña, who has run a second-floor convenience store in L.A.’s Westlake District for three decades, shared insights following the early unrest on April 8.
“I was screaming for help, but nobody around giving help to me,” she said in an interview.
In that situation, authorities reported that the 61-year-old turned down the propositions of one of the individuals involved, who subsequently returned to her shop, assaulted her, and found out she was a transgender woman.
“The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim,” police said at that time.
The same individual came back multiple times accompanied by two others, engaging in hate crimes against De la Peña.
In distressing surveillance footage of the incidents, one of the individuals lurks just outside her door with a skateboard before suddenly entering and, as per investigators, violently assaulting De la Peña with it.
A chilling scene unfolds as the same individual is observed pulling her onto the balcony of the structure, ruthlessly assaulting her as she attempts to protect herself, while another individual stands by watching.
In separate incidents, authorities reported that the suspects used pepper spray on De la Peña, poured an unidentified liquid over her, and attempted to incapacitate her with a Taser.
Filled with fear and anguish, the 61-year-old shared with KTLA in April her belief that the men are attempting to take her life.
“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.”
