Current:Home > ScamsStore owner shot to death right in front of her shop after dispute over LGBTQ+ pride flag, authorities say -ChatGPT
Store owner shot to death right in front of her shop after dispute over LGBTQ+ pride flag, authorities say
View
Date:2025-04-16 09:09:55
Cedar Glen, Calif. — A dispute over an LGBTQ+ pride flag at a California clothing store spiraled into deadly violence this weekend when a man shot and killed the 66-year-old business owner right in front of her shop, authorities said.
The man ran away from the store after the shooting Friday night but was later found and killed in a confrontation with officers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The agency said Laura Ann Carleton was pronounced dead at Mag.Pi, the store she owned and operated in Cedar Glen. The small community in the San Bernardino Mountains is roughly 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Before the shooting, the man "made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store," sheriff's officials said.
It wasn't immediately clear what happened when officers confronted the man, whose identity hadn't been released as of Sunday.
Carleton, who preferred to be called "Lauri," is survived by her husband and nine children in a blended family.
An LGBTQ group in nearby Lake Arrowhead said Carleton didn't identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. But she spent time helping and advocating for everyone and was defending her Pride flags placed in front of her shop on the night of the shooting, the group said.
There was an outpouring of support on social media over the weekend, with commenters expressing shock and sadness on the store's accounts. Many included rainbow flag emojis.
According to CBS News Los Angeles, San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe issued a statement calling the shooting "tragic" and Carleton a "beloved member of the Cedar Glen community. This senseless act of hate and violence is unthinkable and I stand with my mountain communities as we mourn this incredible loss. Everyone deserves to live free of hate and discrimination and practice their constitutional right of freedom of speech. Lauri was a remarkable member of the community and I send my deepest condolences to her family in this time of grief."
Law enforcement agencies in several states have investigated the destruction of rainbow Pride flags as potential hate crimes in recent years.
A report released in June by GLAAD and the Anti-Defamation League identified more than 350 incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault over an 11-month period beginning in June 2022.
In a statement released Monday, GLAAD called Carleton's death "senseless."
"No one should feel unsafe or be attacked for who they are or for simply supporting the LGBTQ community," GLAAD said. Lauri's murder is the latest example of how anti-LGBTQ hatred hurts everyone, whether they are LGBTQ or not."
- In:
- Shooting
- Shooting Death
veryGood! (75673)
Related
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Mod Sun Appears to Reference Avril Lavigne Relationship After Her Breakup With Tyga
- Maluma Is Officially a Silver Fox With New Salt and Pepper Hairstyle
- Jennifer Lawrence Hilariously Claps Back at Liam Hemsworth Over Hunger Games Kissing Critique
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Alyson Stoner Says They Were Fired from Children’s Show After Coming Out as Queer
- Former Sub Passenger Says Waiver Mentions Death 3 Times on First Page
- Biden’s Pipeline Dilemma: How to Build a Clean Energy Future While Shoring Up the Present’s Carbon-Intensive Infrastructure
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Is Project Texas enough to save TikTok?
Ranking
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- The NHL and Chemours Are Spreading ‘Dangerous Misinformation’ About Ice-Rink Refrigerants, a New Report Says
- Titanic Sub Passenger, 19, Was Terrified to Go But Agreed for Father’s Day, Aunt Says
- You'd Never Guess This Chic & Affordable Summer Dress Was From Amazon— Here's Why 2,800+ Shoppers Love It
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Ford slashes price of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. condemned over false claims that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted
- Herbivore Sale: The Top 15 Skincare Deals on Masks, Serums, Moisturizers, and More
Recommendation
Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
Eli Lilly cuts the price of insulin, capping drug at $35 per month out-of-pocket
Here's why Arizona says it can keep growing despite historic megadrought
How (and why) Gov. Ron DeSantis took control over Disney World's special district
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has another big problem: He won't shut up
Know your economeme
Air quality alerts issued for Canadian wildfire smoke in Great Lakes, Midwest, High Plains