A 24-year-old 7-Eleven employee who was left brain-dead after her manager sat on her head has tragically passed away.
Jessica McLaughlin, who was working her shift on June 24, was “violently and senselessly attacked” by her unidentified female manager after an argument broke out shortly after 2:00PM, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
During the horrifying incident, the manager pulled Jessica’s hair and sat down on her upper body with her full weight, preventing her from breathing.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” Jessica’s brother, Sean McLaughlin, shared on a GoFundMe page.
As the attack unfolded, concerned co-workers attempted to pull the manager off Jessica but quickly became targets themselves, according to Fox 11.
In a disturbing turn, while employees tried desperately to revive Jessica, the manager allegedly ran into the back office and attempted to erase security footage, according to the GoFundMe page.
Jessica collapsed during the struggle to free herself and never regained consciousness.
She was transported to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in serious condition, where doctors declared her brain-dead due to a lack of oxygen, the LA Times reported.
After days of uncertainty and heartbreak, Jessica’s family made the difficult decision to take her off life support, and she passed away on Wednesday.
“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,” Sean wrote on GoFundMe.
He added: “She had such a beautiful soul and deserved so much better than the way her life was taken from her.”
Police are still searching for the manager responsible for the attack, who remains at large as the investigation continues.
In a statement addressing the tragedy, 7-Eleven said: “Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time. The suspect has been terminated, and we continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation.”
The fundraising page added: "Now we’re trying to give her the goodbye she deserves. We want to give her a beautiful service — something that honors who she was and how deeply she was loved.
"We’re asking for help to cover the costs of her funeral, including the casket, flowers, transportation, and some unexpected legal and medical expenses that have come with this tragedy.
"If you can help — whether it’s by donating or just sharing this — it would mean everything to us. Every bit helps. We want to lay her to rest with the same love and dignity she gave to others every single day."
Our thoughts are with Jessica's loved ones during this difficult time.