A California man is being sought by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with a string of violent attacks against a 62-year-old business owner in central Los Angeles. Authorities have identified 24-year-old Paul Alan Thomas as a suspect in multiple assaults on Sabrina de la Peña, a longtime convenience store owner in the city’s Westlake District. A second suspect, Samuel Parros, 30, has already been arrested, while a third individual remains unidentified.
De la Peña, who has operated two stores in the area for nearly four decades, says the violence began in April 2025 and escalated over the following weeks. By late May, she described enduring six separate attacks, telling local media that her assailants “tried to kill” her.
Surveillance Footage and Escalating Violence
Police say surveillance video captured one of the most brutal incidents. A man allegedly waited outside De la Peña’s store holding a skateboard before rushing inside and striking her with it. Investigators say he then dragged her outside and continued beating her while another suspect stood nearby. De la Peña later told reporters she was punched more than 50 times, kicked, and left with serious injuries, including a split lip. Approximately $30,000 in cash was reportedly stolen during the aftermath of that assault.
In earlier attacks, authorities say De la Peña was pepper-sprayed, doused with an unknown liquid, and nearly stunned with a Taser-like device. During one confrontation, an attacker allegedly attempted to shoot her twice, but the firearm malfunctioned. According to police, Samuel Parros was arrested on May 27, 2025, for allegedly participating in one of the prior incidents and was already in custody when another attack occurred days later.
Hate Crime Investigation and Community Response
The LAPD has classified the series of assaults as suspected hate crimes. Officials say the same primary suspect returned to the store multiple times, sometimes accompanied by others, and committed escalating acts of violence. De la Peña believes she was targeted because she is a transgender woman. She has publicly pleaded for protection, expressing fear that the attacks could turn fatal.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated that investigators are seeking public assistance in locating Thomas and identifying any additional suspects. The first reported incident allegedly began after a suspect flirted with De la Peña inside her store, left when she rejected him, and later returned to assault and threaten her after learning she was transgender.
In July 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Authorities also believe there may be additional victims connected to similar crimes and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
