A 7-Eleven manager who allegedly sat on an employee - causing her to suffocate and later die - allegedly tried to delete the security footage, witnesses say.
Jessica McLaughlin, who “walked into work expecting a normal day,” was “violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers” while working her shift on June 24, according to her brother, Sean McLaughlin.
The incident began around 2:15PM at the 7-Eleven on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.
An argument reportedly broke out, leading to the assistant manager pulling McLaughlin's hair and sitting on her upper body with her full weight, preventing her from breathing, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” Sean wrote in a GoFundMe page for funeral costs, adding: "While some coworkers tried to help and stop it, they were attacked too. When she finally got free, she collapsed. She wasn’t breathing."
McLaughlin eventually collapsed during the struggle to free herself and stopped breathing.
As coworkers performed CPR and called for help, the manager allegedly ran into the back office to try to delete security footage, Sean claimed.
Los Angeles police arrived to find the employee unconscious and suffering from serious injuries. By then, the manager had fled the scene on a bicycle, and police were still searching for the suspect.
McLaughlin was rushed to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, where she was placed on life support.
"For all of these days, her mom Jasmine, her dad Clancey, our brother Anthony, stepdad Albert, faithful boyfriend Adrian, sister Linda, and I — along with so many friends and family - stayed by her side, hoping, praying for some kind of miracle," Sean penned.
"But the damage from the lack of oxygen was too much. Her brain had stopped functioning."
Doctors later declared the 24-year-old brain-dead due to a lack of oxygen, and her family had to make the "impossible decision" to let her go. She passed away on Wednesday (July 2), surrounded by her loved ones.
“Jessica had a way of making people feel safe, accepted, and loved,” Sean wrote. “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.”
A 7-Eleven spokesperson confirmed the suspect has been terminated and that the company is cooperating with police. “Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement to KTLA.
As of this writing, McLaughlin's GoFundMe page has raised over $39,000. Her funeral service is scheduled for July 10.
“Now we’re trying to give her the goodbye she deserves,” Sean wrote. “We want to give her a beautiful service - something that honors who she was and how deeply she was loved.”
"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," he concluded.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Jessica's family, friends, and loved ones at this time.