Inset: Jessica McLaughlin (GoFundMe). Background: 7-Eleven in Los Angeles, California, where an alleged attack left her brain dead (Google Maps).
A “normal day” for an employee at a California 7-Eleven turned tragic when she was allegedly attacked by one of her managers.
Now the family of Jessica McLaughlin is set to take her off life support as her “brain had stopped functioning” due to being deprived of oxygen, her brother wrote in a GoFundMe post.
“On Tuesday, the 24th [of June], Jessica walked into work expecting a normal day — but instead, she was violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers,” Sean McLaughlin wrote. “She 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.”
The Los Angeles Police Department told local media outlets the incident occurred at the 7-Eleven in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue in the shadows of the famed Paramount Pictures studios. Cops arrived to find a woman in her 20s unconscious, with the suspect having fled the scene prior to officers arriving. Paramedics rushed the victim to the hospital.
Sean McLaughlin told local local CW affiliate KTLA that his sister was almost finished with her shift when her manager threw a bottle at her. The manager then allegedly attacked her and pinned her to the ground.
After she collapsed, her co-workers did CPR on her until first responders arrived.
“Meanwhile, the manager ran to the back room to try and delete the security footage — and then fled the scene on her bike,” Sean McLaughlin wrote. “Doctors and detectives later confirmed what we already knew in our hearts — Jessica didn’t do anything wrong. She was the victim, and this attack should have never happened.”
Hospital staff placed the victim on life support, but doctors could find no brain activity in the days following the attack, the family said. Now the family is planning her funeral. They reportedly plan to take her off life support in the next day or so.
Sean McLaughlin wrote a touching tribute to his sister to open the GoFundMe post.
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. 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.
Jessica had a way of making people feel safe, accepted, and loved. You could come to her with anything and know you wouldn’t be judged. She was the kind of person who rooted for the underdog, who lifted people up when they were down, and who truly saw the good in everyone. She had such a beautiful soul and deserved so much better than the way her life was taken from her.
The incident remains under investigation. No arrests have been announced.
7-Eleven issued a statement that said the manager in question has been fired and the company is cooperating with law enforcement.
“Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time,” the statement said.
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