Why Saying ‘That’s Old Already‘ Is Wrong and Insensitive: The Tragedy of Valentina Orellana-Peralta. It has been more than three years since.
LAPD Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. will not face criminal charges in the shooting death of Valentina. Orellana-Peralta, as determined by the California Attorney General’s office in April 2024. The officer did, however, violate department policy according to an internal review.
When Jones fired a series of reckless shots that killed both Valentina and Daniel Elena-Lopez. LAPD Chief Michel Moore later confirmed that all three shots violated department policy. Yet, real accountability remains out of reach.
As the case moves toward a jury trial, a disturbing pattern has emerged. One marked by dismissiveness, insensitivity, and a lack of urgency from people who should be fighting for justice. One comment, in particular, was especially cruel: an LAPD officer referring to the case as “old already.”
This moment, captured by Streetwatch LA, shows how deeply some officials have minimized the tragedy of Valentina Orellana-Peralta, who was killed the day before Christmas Eve.
When the death of a child is treated as something “old,” it reveals a painful lack of humanity. For Valentina’s parents, Juan Pablo Orellana and Soledad Peralta, and her sister Merry Lee, this tragedy is not something they can move on from. They live with this loss every single day. Every birthday, holiday, and milestone is a reminder of Valentina’s absence—a wound that time cannot heal.
Dismissing the case as “old” disrespects their grief and undermines the fight for justice. Valentina’s death may no longer dominate headlines, but for her family, the pain remains constant.
Another troubling detail is that William Dorsey Jones Jr. still works with children as a football coach at Valencia High School. His continued position only highlights the systemic failures that have allowed this tragedy to go unpunished. The community continues to call for accountability, yet instead of action, they hear callous remarks from people in positions of power.
Accountability does not expire. The public’s demand for justice does not fade with time. When officials dismiss this case, they send a dangerous message: that even when a child is killed by police, they expect the world to eventually forget.
But we will not forget Valentina.
And we will not accept a system that treats her death as just another story that people are supposed to move past.
Help the family with support and sign the petition for justice! Check out AFTP Foundation (Always For The People).
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