Family members of Jessica McLaughlin — a young woman who they say was violently attacked by her 7-Eleven manager, leaving her on life support — have said their last goodbyes after losing hope for a medical miracle.
McLaughlin died in a hospital on Wednesday, eight days after she was attacked at the Los Angeles convenience store, her family said. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating her death as a homicide and continuing to search for the woman suspected in the deadly assault.
The 24-year-old went to work on June 24 at the 7-Eleven store in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue, Sean McLaughlin said in a GoFundMe post set up to help pay for his sister’s funeral expenses.
An unidentified manager attacked the young woman inside the store, her family alleges. Police said the incident began as a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation.
Officers responded shortly around 2 p.m. after a report of battery and found an unconscious woman.
McLaughlin’s manager attacked her after the argument, her family said, based on a witness who saw the attack and spoke to police.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” Sean McLaughlin wrote in the post about the unnamed manager.
Clancey McLaughlin told news station KTLA that his daughter’s brain was deprived of oxygen for more than 10 minutes.
“She’s basically declared brain-dead now,” he said Monday.
He claimed that the suspect bullied his daughter and that she pulled her by the hair as McLaughlin was leaving work on the day of the attack.
Her family said McLaughlin collapsed after she was able to get free of her attacker. She told her co-workers to call 911, saying she couldn’t breathe.
The 911 caller told the Los Angeles Fire Department that McLaughlin was unconscious and someone had performed CPR on her but that she did not revive. She was taken to the hospital in grave condition, according to the LAFD.
Her family claims that the manager attempted to delete security camera footage of the confrontation while co-workers were performing CPR and calling for help. The manager fled on her bike, McLaughlin’s family alleges.
Police have not released a description of the suspect. Detectives have obtained video evidence of the scene but are not sharing it with the public at this time, police said.
In a statement, 7-Eleven said the employee involved in the fight had been fired and that it was cooperating with police in their investigation.
“Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement.
McLaughlin’s family said she was an innocent victim, according to the GoFundMe post.
Her family said she never regained consciousness and suffered severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen.
“Her brain had stopped functioning. After getting second opinions and doing everything we could, we have to make the impossible decision to let her go,” Sean McLaughlin said.
Anyone with information about the death is asked to contact Operations West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 473-9470. After-hours information can be left at (877) 527-3247, and anonymous tips can be left at (800) 222-8477.
Times staff reporter Libor Jany contributed to this report.