A 24-year-old 7-Eleven employee died July 2, 2025, after being removed from life support following a brutal attack by her manager at a Los Angeles convenience store on June 24, 2025.
Jessica McLaughlin was working at the 7-Eleven store located in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue in Hollywood around 2:15 p.m. when she became involved in a verbal dispute with an unidentified female manager that escalated into a physical confrontation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of a battery and found McLaughlin unconscious on the store floor. She was transported to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition, where doctors determined she had suffered severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
According to McLaughlin’s family, the attack was particularly violent. Her brother Sean McLaughlin described the incident in a GoFundMe campaign, stating that the manager held Jessica down and sat on top of her, preventing her from breathing. The family alleges the manager also pulled McLaughlin’s hair during the assault.
Witnesses reported that coworkers attempted to intervene and help McLaughlin during the attack but were also targeted by the aggressive manager. When McLaughlin finally broke free from her attacker, she collapsed and was unable to breathe properly.
The family claims that while coworkers performed CPR on McLaughlin and called for emergency assistance, the manager fled to the back office and attempted to delete security camera footage of the incident before escaping the scene on a bicycle.
McLaughlin’s father, Clancey McLaughlin, told local media that his daughter’s brain was deprived of oxygen for more than 10 minutes. Medical professionals declared her brain-dead shortly after her arrival at the hospital.
The family maintained hope for eight days while McLaughlin remained on life support. Her father indicated that barring a miracle, they would have to make the difficult decision to remove her from life support. Sean McLaughlin stated, “After getting second opinions and doing everything we could, we have to make the impossible decision to let her go.”
McLaughlin died at 10:34 a.m. on July 2, 2025, after her family removed her from life support. Following her death, the LAPD officially launched a homicide investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Detectives have obtained video evidence of the incident from the store’s security cameras but are not releasing the footage to the public at this time. The suspect manager remains at large, and no arrests have been made. Police have not released a description of the suspect or identified her by name.
Lieutenant Sean Kinchla of the West Bureau Homicide Unit indicated that the case is classified as a death investigation while authorities await final autopsy results from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation will determine whether the attack directly caused McLaughlin’s death and what criminal charges may be appropriate.
7-Eleven, Inc. issued a statement confirming that the employee involved in the altercation has been terminated from her position. The company expressed that their hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time and emphasized their full cooperation with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.
The McLaughlin family established a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses, which has raised more than $39,000 as of July 9, 2025. Sean McLaughlin described his sister as someone who made people feel safe, accepted, and loved, noting that she was the type of person who rooted for the underdog and lifted others up when they were down.
He characterized Jessica as having a beautiful soul who deserved better than the way her life was taken from her. The family described her as a daughter, best friend, and devoted aunt who served as a rock for her family during the five years she lived with her brother.
The family’s legal representatives have indicated they are seeking accountability and justice in the case. The investigation continues as authorities work to locate the suspect and determine the full circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Operations West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 473-9470. After-hours tips can be submitted at (877) 527-3247, and anonymous information can be provided through LA Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
