The TransLatin@ Coalition Demands Justice for Sabrina de La Peña and Applauds $10,000 Reward to Help Identify Remaining Attackers

Sabrina de la Peña, 61, stands inside her store in the Westlake District in Los Angeles. Police are looking for the men who attacked her last month in a suspected hate crime. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

The TransLatin@ Coalition stands in unwavering solidarity with our sister, Sabrina de La Peña—a 61-year-old transgender woman and small business owner—who has been the target of multiple hate-fueled assaults in the Westlake neighborhood since April of this year.

We applaud Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis for authoring and championing a motion approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to establish a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the brutal attacks on Sabrina.

“This violent hate crime has no place in our neighborhoods,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “Now more than ever, we must reject hate and safeguard our most vulnerable communities, which include our transgender and LGBTQ+ Angelenos. I encourage anyone who may have information to please come forward.”

These were not random acts of violence. These were calculated, repeated assaults, involving weapons like a skateboard, taser, and pepper spray—accompanied by hateful, anti-trans slurs. The intention was clear: to intimidate, harm, and dehumanize a proud trans woman simply for living authentically.

Let us be clear—hate has no place in our communities. Trans lives are not disposable. Sabrina is not only a survivor; she is a beloved member of our community, a business owner, and an elder whose resilience reflects the strength of so many trans people who continue to face violence for simply existing.

The LAPD released images of three suspects being sought in repeated attacks on Sabrina de la Peña.

While one of the perpetrators has been arrested, two attackers remain at large. We urge the public to come forward. If you saw something, say something. If you know something, do something. Now is the time to show up for trans people—not in theory, but in action.

To share information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also reach LAPD Rampart Division Detectives directly at (213) 484-3495.

The TransLatin@ Coalition will continue to monitor this case closely and offer support to Sabrina and her loved ones. We are calling not just for arrests, but for a broader recognition: trans people deserve safety, dignity, and justice—always.