The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a group of men who they say attacked a transgender woman over the weekend and are believed to be the same people who attacked her in April.
According to LAPD, the group involved in a previous attack returned to the victim’s location on May 31 at around 11:38 p.m. in the Westlake District of Los Angeles.
Stream Los Angeles News for free, 24/7, wherever you are.
WATCH HEREThey assaulted 61-year-old Sabrina De La Pena, leaving her with serious injuries. The group left the scene before authorities arrived.
"In all my life, this is the first time someone beat my face," a severely bruised De La Pena told NBC4.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning with NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
SIGN UP According to the LAPD, one of the suspected attackers entered the victim's store on April 8 and began flirting with her. But once she rejected his advances, he left and later returned, pushing her to the ground.
"After that moment, the nightmare started. When I rejected him," the victim said. "They started beating me, beating me so bad. My face, my head, kicking me."
"The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and discovered she was a transgender woman. The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim," the LAPD said.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The same man allegedly returned to the victim's location several times along with other men and committed other hate crimes against the victim which included striking her with a skateboard, deploying pepper spray, and throwing an unknown liquid substance at her while another man attempted to stun her with a Taser.
"It's not easy living this life," De La Pena said. "When you take the decision to be you, you have to be really strong."
The victim said she plans to close her store's doors before dark and is hoping the public can make donations to help supplement her lost income.
"I don't want to lose my store. I love my store," she said. "If I lose my store, I lose everything. It's a business where I've been for 27 years."
Detectives believe there may be other unidentified victims and are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspected attackers and released their photographs.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has additional information regarding the identification of the suspects, is urged to contact Rampart Division Robbery Detectives at 213-484-3495. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
