A 61-year-old transgender woman in the Westlake area of LA has endured repeated violent assaults by several suspects who police say are back.
Sabrina de la Pena has been operating a convenience store on the second floor in the Westlake area for the past 30 years.
She says that the same man and others brutally attacked her six times as she meets on April 8th at her shop, where one of the suspects sexually assaulted her and found out she was a trans woman and threatened to kill her.
Surveillance footage filmed one of the hard-to-view attacks where she was beaten on a skateboard that turned 62, pepper sprayed on her, infused with unknown substance, and dragged into a balcony outside her shop while being attacked and attempted to protect herself.
“I can’t live without thinking every day about what time will they come back and attack me,” said de la Penha, who believes her gender identity is the reason why men continue to assault her.
Two suspects (Sabrina de la Pena) seen in surveillance footage of a 61-year-old transgender woman running around in Los Angeles on May 31, 2025 Two suspects (Sabrina de la Pena) seen in surveillance footage of a 61-year-old transgender woman rushing around in LA on May 31, 2025, two suspects (Sabrina de la Pena) saw the 61-year-old security guard. 2025 (Sabrina de la Peña) Sabrina de la Peña is showing her split lip after being attacked for the sixth May 31st, 2025. (Sabrina de La Peña) Surveillance cameras have repeatedly gained violent attacks on transgender women in LA since April 8, 2025 (Sabrina de la Peña) Surveillance cameras are registered with LA Peña, Sabrina of Sabrina, Sabrina of Sabrina, who won LA Peña from April 8, 2025. LA Transgender Women Beginning April 8, 2025 Camera (Sabrina de La Pena) Surveillance cameras that have gained repeated violent attacks on transgender women in Los Angeles from April 8, 2025 (Sabrina de La Pena) captured repeated violent attacks on transgender women in LA from April 8, 2025. Suspects involved in hate crimes since April 8, 2025 (LAPD)
Authorities at the Los Angeles Police Department, seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects, say the latest attack occurred around 11:30pm on May 31.
In surveillance footage of the latest attack, two male suspects run through the door and throw brutal punches at the woman, and the screams of Delapeña can be heard from outside her shop.
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De La Pena told Ktla’s Rachel Menitov that this time the attacker who kicked her to the ground beat her, opened her lips badly, stole $30,000 in cash from her and brought her a gun.
“He tried to shoot me twice, but he didn’t fire the gun,” she said.
A security guard came to her defense and chased the two men, but de la Pena said he recognized at least one of them.
“I recognize the guy,” she said. “I know it’s the same people that come all the time.”
Police have confirmed to KTLA that they believe the same suspect continues to attack the 61-year-old shopkeeper, and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell will deal with the investigation at a press conference Tuesday.
De La Pena said more protection from police is needed, and at her age it would be difficult and more expensive to move away from her livelihood.
“This is the sixth attack. Trust me. When are you going to do something for me? What are you waiting for? You are waiting for them to kill me,” she asked. “They tried to kill me.”
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