Tragedy struck at a Hollywood 7-Eleven last Tuesday when an employee, Jessica McLaughlin, was left brain-dead following an alleged fight with her manager. The incident occurred near Melrose Avenue and N. Arden Boulevard, prompting a response from the Los Angeles Police Department to a battery call, ABC7 reports. The altercation between two employees resulted in 24-year-old McLaughlin being admitted to the hospital, and according to the victim's family, she has since been declared brain-dead.
While no arrests have been made in the case, the family accuses a manager at the convenience store of the attack. The manager allegedly "sat on top of her and didn't let her breathe," McLaughlin's brother Sean recounted in a KTLA interview. Distraught and seeking justice, the family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to fund Jessica's funeral costs. Sean McLaughlin also shared that despite coworkers' efforts to help Jessica during the incident, the damage from the lack of oxygen was too severe.
LAPD has yet to release any details concerning the identity of the manager or confirm the allegations made by the family, though they initiated an investigation and filed a felony battery report. The investigation is ongoing, with the specific circumstances leading up to the altercation still under review. 7-Eleven has issued a statement on the matter, noting that "Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time," as shown on FOX 11. The statement also confirms that the suspect has been terminated and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement.
Further distressing details have come to light, as the victim's brother, Sean shared that his sister had been bullied at work prior to the incident. He told KTLA, "Jessica didn’t do anything wrong. She was the victim, and this attack should have never happened." Describing Jessica's character, her brother’s GoFundMe page emphasizes that she "had such a beautiful soul and deserved so much better than the way her life was taken from her." The family now seeks to give Jessica the farewell she deserves as they navigate this immense loss and call for accountability from those involved.
