7-Eleven worker dies after allegedly being attacked by manager
A 7-Eleven employee in Los Angeles died after allegedly being attacked by her manager, who authorities are searching for, according to local police and the deceased worker's family.
Jessica McLaughlin was found unconscious by Los Angeles police on June 24 after patrol officers received a radio call around 2:15 p.m. regarding a felony battery at the convenience store on Melrose Avenue, according to a department news release.
McLaughlin, who police said was in her 20s, got into a verbal dispute with another woman inside the 7-Eleven that escalated into a physical altercation, the department stated. Once discovered by police, McLaughlin was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead on July 2.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office is in the process of determining McLaughlin's cause and manner of death, police said.
'This attack should have never happened'
McLaughlin's brother, Sean McLaughlin, created a GoFundMe to cover the costs of his sister's funeral.
"Jessica McLaughlin is my sister — but she's so much more than that. She's a daughter, a best friend, and the kind of auntie every kid dreams of having," Sean McLaughlin wrote on the GoFundMe page. "She's been my rock these past five years while we've lived together. She was always there — for me, for our family, and honestly, for anyone who needed her."
Sean McLaughlin also described on the GoFundMe page what allegedly transpired on the day of his sister's death, accusing "one of her managers" of "violently and senselessly" attacking her on June 24. The brother alleges his sister's manager "held her down, sat on top of her and didn't let her breathe."
"While some coworkers tried to help and stop it, they were attacked too. When she finally got free, she collapsed. She wasn't breathing," Sean McLaughlin wrote on the GoFundMe about his sister.
As McLaughlin's coworkers gave her CPR and called for help, the manager "ran to the back room to try and delete the security footage — and then fled the scene on her bike," the brother wrote.
Neither the LAPD nor McLaughlin's brother identified the manager allegedly involved in the incident.
"This attack should have never happened," Sean McLaughlin wrote.
More news: Father and son identified as campers found dead at Isle Royale National Park
GoFundMe for Jessica McLaughlin nears $50,000 goal
The GoFundMe created by McLaughlin's brother is nearing its $50,000 goal. As of July 3, it has received over $31,000 in donations.
"We're trying to give her the goodbye she deserves," Sean McLaughlin wrote on the GoFundMe page. "We want to give her a beautiful service — something that honors who she was and how deeply she was loved."
A 7-Eleven spokesperson told KTLA that the company was fully cooperating with the investigation and that the suspect has since been fired.
USA TODAY contacted 7-Eleven and Sean McLaughlin on Thursday, July 3, but has not received a response.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
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