Investigators are looking into the tragic death of 24-year-old supermarket worker Jessica McLaughlin, who was left unable to breathe after one of her managers allegedly held her down and sat on her during a shift
A young woman has tragically died after being left brain dead following an alleged assault at work. And now her family have spoken out about their anguish.
Jessica McLaughlin, who passed away at the age of just 24, was allegedly held down and “sat on” while working a shift at a California branch of the supermarket chain 7-Eleven.
The alleged perpetrator – an unidentified female manager – is said to have carried out the assault on Tuesday, June 24, at a store located in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.
Jessica, remembered as having had “such a beautiful soul”, was allegedly crushed to the point where she was left unable to breathe. According to her grief-stricken brother, Sean McLaughlin, when colleagues attempted to intervene, they, too, were attacked.
When the shop worker finally got free, she reportedly collapsed and “wasn’t breathing”. While co-workers frantically attempted CPR and called for help, the suspect is said to have run “to the back room to try and delete the security footage” before fleeing the scene on a bike.
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At 2:15 p.m. local time, Wilshire Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of a felony battery and arrived at the scene to discover “an unconscious woman in her 20s on the floor of the store, later identified as Jessica McLaughlin”, as per the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
According to an LAPD statement, “Preliminary information indicated that two women became involved in a verbal dispute inside the business that escalated into a physical confrontation.”
It’s understood that, although investigators have obtained video evidence of the incident, they will not be releasing it at this time.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics then transported Jessica to a local hospital, where she was determined to be in a “critical condition”.
However, the damage due to lack of oxygen was simply too great, and Jessica’s brain “had stopped functioning”. Although the family desperately sought second opinions on her condition, it became clear that the only option was to take her off life support.
Speaking with CBS News Los Angeles on Monday, June 30, Jessica’s father, Clancey McLaughlin, shared: “We collectively know that this is the right thing to do, as hard as it is. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. I wouldn’t even know how to explain how difficult this is. It’s the worst feeling ever.”
Offering a heartbreaking update, he added: “Wednesday is gonna be the last day, even though she’s lying in that bed, it’s gonna be the last day we ever see her.”
That day on July 2, Jessica was pronounced deceased, with her family making “the impossible decision to let her go”. They are now preparing for her funeral, and hope “to lay her to rest with the same love and dignity she gave to others every single day”.
As detailed on a GoFundMe page set up to cover the costs of Jessica’s funeral expenses, devastated brother Sean spoke of how he and other loved ones had stayed by Jessica’s side in those final days, “hoping” and “praying for some kind of miracle”.
Paying tribute to his late sister, Sean wrote: “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.
“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.”
7-Eleven, Inc. has issued the following public statement regarding the tragedy: “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.”
Operations West Bureau Homicide detectives have now assumed investigative responsibility, while the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office will complete an investigation, with the aim of determining the cause and manner of Jessica’s death.
You can donate to Jessica’s family’s GoFundMe page here.
The Mirror has reached out to 7-Eleven for additional comment.
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