A tragic incident occurred involving a 7-Eleven employee who passed away after an alleged altercation with a manager at her workplace.
Jessica McLaughlin, 24, went to her job at a 7-Eleven in California on June 24, anticipating a typical workday. However, she was allegedly assaulted by a female manager at the store.
According to her family, the manager is accused of pulling Jessica’s hair and using her full weight to sit on Jessica’s body.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” Sean McLaughlin, Jessica’s brother, stated on a GoFundMe page.
Sean further explained: “While some coworkers tried to intervene, they were also attacked. When she finally managed to break free, she collapsed and stopped breathing.”
Sean mentioned that as some of Jessica’s colleagues administered CPR, the manager reportedly attempted to erase security footage in a back room before fleeing on a bicycle.
Jessica passed away on July 2 after being removed from life support.
Sean elaborated: “She was kept alive on machines for the past few days. During that time, her mother Jasmine, father Clancey, brother Anthony, stepfather Albert, boyfriend Adrian, sister Linda, and I—along with numerous friends and family—were by her side, hoping and praying for a miracle.
“Unfortunately, the damage from oxygen deprivation was too severe. Her brain had ceased functioning. After seeking second opinions and exhausting all options, we made the heart-wrenching decision to let her go.”
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed their response to the Hollywood store, finding Jessica unconscious when they arrived.
“Preliminary information indicated that two women became involved in a verbal dispute inside the business that escalated into a physical confrontation,” according to an LAPD release.
“Investigators have obtained video evidence of the incident but are not releasing it at this time.”
CBS News reports that police have launched a homicide investigation following Jessica’s death.
7-Eleven issued a statement regarding the incident, telling UNILAD: “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.”