A 24-year-old employee at a California 7-Eleven suffered severe brain damage after a violent incident with her manager. This occurred at the store in Los Angeles on June 24, according to various reports.
During the attack, the manager, described as large and aggressive, pulled Jessica McLaughlin’s hair and sat on her chest, restricting her ability to breathe. Her brother, Sean McLaughlin, shared on GoFundMe that “she held her down, sat on her, and didn’t let her breathe.”
A fellow employee attempted to intervene but was also targeted by the manager, which escalated the situation further.
Statements from GoFundMe indicate that after the attack, the manager tried to assist McLaughlin but also attempted to erase security footage from the incident.
Witnessing coworkers rushed to help, but unfortunately, McLaughlin lost consciousness and was then taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Doctors later pronounced brain death due to a lack of oxygen, as reported by the LA Times.
Following the incident, her family made the difficult decision to discontinue life support days later. They expressed heartbreak over the loss, stating that Jessica had a unique ability to make others feel safe and loved.
In a heartfelt tribute, her brother remarked that “she had such a beautiful soul and was far better than the way her life was taken away from her.”
Law enforcement is currently pursuing the suspect involved, and an investigation is ongoing. 7-Eleven issued a statement expressing their condolences for those affected by this tragic event and confirmed that the suspects involved have been terminated while cooperating with the investigation.
