Police body cam footage shows the moment cops shot and killed a suspect and a teenage girl inside a Burlington Coat Factory.
The incident happened at a Burlington Coat Factory in North Hollywood, CA, where police shot and killed the suspect who was attacking shoppers with a bike lock and chain.
In the police footage released Monday, you can see cops armed to the teeth walking through the store in search of a suspect, when they come across a woman in pain in the aisle, and blood on the floor.
The video shows an officer with an assault rifle shooting at a suspect who crumples to the floor.
Police say they were unaware that a 14-year-old girl was cowering in a dressing room behind the suspect and that one of the bullets hit her in the chest.
The girl's death was ruled a homicide. She was shopping for a dress for her upcoming birthday party when she was identified as Valentina Orellana-Peralta.
An officer can use deadly force against a fleeing suspect if the suspect poses a grave danger to others. The suspect attacked 3 women with a lock and chain. The initial call was for shots fired.
When officers use their guns, they must be aware of their surroundings. The dressing rooms are paper thin, and the shoppers had been in the store. That could be a problem for the officer.
It's a sad story all around, and the video paints a bleaker picture.
