Jessica McLaughlin, a 24-year-old employee at a 7-Eleven store in Los Angeles, America, has tragically died after being declared brain-dead following a violent assault allegedly carried out by her manager, Valeria Parra, during a shift on June 24.
According to police and witness accounts, a dispute broke out around 2 p.m. between Jessica and her female manager, Parra, which quickly escalated into a brutal attack.
The manager reportedly pulled Jessica’s hair, forced her to the ground, and sat on her upper body, restricting her breathing.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” Jessica’s brother, Sean McLaughlin, wrote on a GoFundMe page created to assist the family.
Witnesses said co-workers attempted to intervene but were allegedly assaulted by the manager as well.
The suspect then fled to the back office in an apparent attempt to delete security footage before escaping the premises.
Jessica lost consciousness during the attack and never regained it. She was rushed to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, where doctors later declared her brain-dead due to oxygen deprivation.
Her family made the painful decision to remove her from life support a few days later.
“Jessica had a way of making people feel safe, accepted, and loved,” her brother wrote. “She had such a beautiful soul and deserved so much better than the way her life was taken from her.”
The suspected manager has been terminated by 7-Eleven, and a manhunt is underway as police continue to investigate.
In a statement, the company said: “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.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as efforts continue to locate the fugitive former manager.
