The family of a 24-year-old woman who was allegedly beaten by a manager at a 7-Eleven in Hollywood where they both worked was trying to raise funds Tuesday for her funeral.
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Jessica McLaughlin was injured around 2:10 p.m. on June 24 at the convenience store in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue, according to a GoFundMe page set up by the victim's brother.
Officers responding to a report of a battery found McLaughlin had been in a verbal altercation with another woman that turned violent, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
McLaughlin was in critical condition when she was taken to a hospital, LAPD Officer Kevin Terzes said.
Her brother, Sean McLaughlin, wrote in the fundraiser website that his sister "walked into work expecting a normal day, but instead, she was violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers."
"She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn't let her breathe," he alleged. "While some coworkers tried to help and stop it, they were attacked too. When she finally got free, she collapsed. She wasn't breathing."
Coworkers performed CPR and called for help, according to the brother, who wrote that the manager allegedly "ran to the back room to try and delete the security footage, and then fled the scene on her bike."
"Doctors and detectives later confirmed what we already knew in our hearts -- Jessica didn't do anything wrong. She was the victim, and this attack should have never happened," the brother wrote.
The woman's family said doctors at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital told them she was brain dead and would be removed her from life support.
"She has been kept alive on machines for the past couple of days," Sean McLaughlin wrote.
"For those three days, her mom Jasmine, her dad Clancey, our brother Anthony, step dad 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. But the damage from the lack of oxygen was too much. 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."
There was no word on the status of the accused manager.
7-Eleven Inc. said in a statement, "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."
As of Tuesday morning, about $18,200 had been raised from more than 300 donations toward a $50,000 goal to cover funeral and interment services planned for July 10, according to the family.
The GoFundMe page can be found HERE.
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