A transgender woman violently assaulted by three male suspects earlier this year in a brutal hate crime was reportedly attacked by the same men over the weekend, officials announced.
The latest incident, according to a news release from the L.A. Police Department, occurred Saturday at around 11:30 p.m. and left the 61-year-old victim, Sabrina de la Peña, seriously injured.
De la Peña, who has operated a second-floor convenience store in L.A.’s Westlake District for the last 30 years, spoke to KTLA after the initial violence on April 8.
“I was screaming for help, but nobody around giving help to me,” she said in an interview.
In that instance, police said the 61-year-old rejected the advances of one of the suspects, who later returned to her store, sexually assaulted her and discovered she was a transgender woman.
“The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim,” police said at that time.
The same suspect returned several more times with two other suspects and committed hate crimes against De la Peña.
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Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Surveillance cameras captured repeated and violent assaults on a transgender woman in L.A. beginning on April 8, 2025. (Sabrina de la Peña) -
Images of two additional suspects involved in the hate crimes starting on April 8, 2025. (LAPD) -
Images of one of the suspects involved in the hate crimes starting on April 8, 2025. (LAPD)
In hard to watch surveillance footage of the attacks, one of the men hides just outside her door with a skateboard before rushing in and, according to investigators, brutally striking De la Peña with it.
“I was screaming for help, but nobody around giving help to me,” De la Peña told KTLA. “He take me out to the alleyway and he start beating me outside.”
The same suspect is then seen dragging her onto the balcony of the building, violently beating her as she tries to defend herself while another suspect looks on.
In other instances, police said the suspects pepper sprayed De la Peña, doused her with an unknown liquid and tried to stun her with a Taser.
Terrified and distraught, the 61-year-told KTLA in April that she believes the men are trying to kill her.
“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.”
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
