What was meant to be a routine 7-Eleven shift turned violent for Jessica McLaughlin, whose store supervisor allegedly attacked her and sat on top of her, preventing her from breathing.
Her family is now preparing to take her off life support after Jessica was left brain dead from the attack.
“People are just heartless,” one commented online.
What should have been a routine 7-Eleven shift turned life-threatening for 26-year-old Jessica McLaughlin
Image credits: GoFundMe
Like any other normal day, Jessica went for her shift at the 7-Eleven store in Hollywood on June 24.
But things took an unexpected turn just as she was wrapping up work and preparing to go home.
A verbal argument allegedly erupted between Jessica and the assistant manager, according to her brother Sean McLaughlin.
Image credits: ABC7
Sean told KTLA 5 that the assistant manager was antagonizing her and even turned violent.
The supervisor, Valeria Parra, allegedly threw a bottle at Jessica before pinning her to the ground and sitting on her.
The act led to the alleged victim losing oxygen and becoming unconscious.
“Jessica walked into work expecting a normal day—but instead, she was violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers,” her brother said
Image credits: GoFundMe
“Jessica walked into work expecting a normal day—but instead, she was violently and senselessly attacked by one of her managers,” Sean wrote on a GoFundMe page he set up for her funeral.
“She held her down, sat on top of her, and didn’t let her breathe,” he continued.
Image credits: GoFundMe
Jessica wasn’t breathing when the assistant manager let go, the grieving brother said.
“While some coworkers tried to help and stop it, they were attacked too,” Sean wrote.
“When she finally got free, she collapsed. She wasn’t breathing,” he added.
The suspect, identified as Valeria Parra, reportedly pinned Jessica to the ground and sat on her
Image credits: KTLA5
While help was on the way, the suspect allegedly tried to delete surveillance footage of the attack and then vanished from the premises.
“Her coworkers gave her CPR and called for help,” he wrote. “Meanwhile, the manager ran to the back room to try and delete the security footage—and then fled the scene on her bike.”
Image credits: Facebook/Anthony McLaughlin
The young employee was hospitalized following the attack, and the family was told “what [they] already knew in our hearts.”
“Jessica didn’t do anything wrong. She was the victim, and this attack should have never happened,” Sean wrote.
The victim’s father told KTLA 5 that his daughter had been experiencing bullying at her workplace even before the attack that left her on life support.
Jessica was placed on life support following the attack
Image credits: ABC7
As he described the attack, the father said, “She physically grabbed her by her hair, was swinging her around, threw her on the ground, and she sat on top of her chest while she was physically assaulting her.”
Jessica couldn’t breathe and lost all oxygen to her brain for about 10 minutes, the father added.
Image credits: KTLA5
In his heartbreaking message on GoFundMe, Sean said his sister was kept alive by the hospital machines she was hooked up to since the attack.
Her loved ones waited by her hospital bed, hoping for some good news and “some kind of miracle.”
“But the damage from the lack of oxygen was too much. Her brain had stopped functioning,” Sean said. “After getting second opinions and doing everything we could, we have to make the impossible decision to let her go.”
The family decided to pull the plug and are making arrangements for her funeral
Image credits: Facebook/Anthony McLaughlin
The family is now focusing on giving Jessica the farewell she deserves.
“She’s a daughter, a best friend, and the kind of auntie every kid dreams of having,” Sean said in the emotional message.
“She’s been my rock these past five years while we’ve lived together. She was always there — for me, for our family, and honestly, for anyone who needed her.”
Image credits: GoFundMe
Sean went on to say that his brain dead sister 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,” he added. “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.”
The young employee deserved “so much better than the way her life was taken from her,” said her grieving brother
Image credits: GoFundMe
Describing her as a person with a “beautiful soul,” Sean said his sister deserved “so much better than the way her life was taken from her.”
The family is preparing to take her off life support this week.
Following the alleged attack, the Los Angeles Police Department immediately began searching for the suspect.
No arrests were immediately made.
Image credits: KCAL NEWS
A 7-Eleven spokesperson confirmed to KTLA 5 that the suspect was terminated by the company, and they were fully cooperating with the investigation.
“Our hearts are with those impacted during this difficult time,” they said in a statement.
“The suspect has been terminated, and we continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation.”
LAPD began searching for the suspect following the alleged attack
