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Why prosecutors declined to charge 7-Eleven manager after employee died following LA altercation in which she ‘sat on top of her’
Here's why prosecutors declined to charge a 7-Eleven manager who was accused of sitting on an employee and suffocating them to death.
On June 24, 2025, Jessica McLaughlin was "violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers" while working her shift on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, according to her brother, Sean McLaughlin.
An argument reportedly broke out between the pair, leading to the assistant manager pulling McLaughlin's hair and sitting on her upper body with her full weight, preventing her from breathing, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe," Sean wrote on a GoFundMe page, 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.
Prosecutors declined to charge the 7-Eleven manager
The LA County Medical Examiner ruled the employee's death a homicide, but the District Attorney's Office said the determination was "strictly a public health and vital statistics term," adding that "the autopsy did not show any fatal traumatic injuries" to McLaughlin.
According to CBS News, prosecutors stated that the manager, who was reportedly identified as Valeria Parra, claimed self-defense and did not use "excessive force in defending herself."
They added that the altercation "involved all parties actively battering each other with the same amount of force, which was not excessive or deadly".
"Homicide is the killing of one person by another," the LA County District Attorney's Office wrote in the charging document.
"A homicide can be lawful or unlawful. Although the medical examiner classified the manner of death in this case a homicide, the evidence is insufficient to prove the homicide was unlawful."
Jessica's father, Clancey McLaughlin, said the family was disappointed that the District Attorney decided not to pursue charges.
"Our family has suffered an unimaginable loss, and this outcome has left us feeling abandoned by the system that was supposed to protect her (Jessica L. Mclaughlin). We remain committed to seeking accountability and honoring Jessica's memory in every way we can," he penned.
The manager tried to 'delete security footage' of the incident
After the horrific incident, McLaughlin's coworkers performed CPR and called for help. At the point, the manager allegedly ran into the back office to try to delete security footage, Sean claimed.
Police arrived at the scene and found the employee unconscious, with the manager having fled the scene prior to officers arriving.
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," her brother penned. "But the damage from the lack of oxygen was too much. Her brain had stopped functioning."
Doctors later declared her 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 July 2, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones.
At the time, a 7-Eleven spokesperson confirmed the manager's contract had been terminated and that the company was cooperating with police.
"Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time," they said in a statement.