A Southern California clothing store owner was shot and killed after an argument erupted about a rainbow Pride flag hanging outside her business.
Laura Ann 'Lauri' Carleton died from a gunshot wound on Friday evening at her store, Mag Pi, in Cedar Glen, east of Los Angeles.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that deputies responded to reports of a shooting at around 5pm on Friday evening and found the 66-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by attending paramedics.
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The suspected shooter is also dead following a 'lethal force encounter' with deputies as the suspect ran away after the shooting.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
“Detectives learned the suspect made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store before shooting Carleton,” the media release from the Sheriff's Office read.
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According to the clothing store's website, Carleton had a husband and nine children.
She studied at the ArtCenter College of Design and had a long career in the fashion industry, including a 15-year run as an executive at Kenneth Cole. She owned and operated the store by herself.
The local Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ organisation said Carleton spent her time 'helping and advocating for everyone in the community'.
"Today was a very sad day for Lake Arrowhead and for the LGBTQ community. Our friend and supporter Lauri Carleton @magpi_shop was murdered defending her lgbtq+ Pride flags in front of her store in Cedar Glen California," they said in a post on Facebook.
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"Lauri did not identify as LGBTQ+, but spent her time helping & advocating for everyone in the community. She will be truly missed. From what we understand the suspect is no longer a threat."
The local food co-op said Carleton was a 'pillar of the community'.
"Lauri was a pillar in our community, an immovable force in her values for equality, love, and justice. If you knew Lauri you know she loved hard, laughed often, and nurtured and protected those she cared about," Mountain Provisions Cooperative wrote in an Instagram post.
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They continued: "She was a force, she loved to crack jokes and wanted to live as joyful of a life as possible. We will continue to stand for the values she so selflessly stood for. Her death will not be in vain .
"Our community needs as much as love as we can get right now. Fly your flags in honour of Lauri love will prevail."
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department says an investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Keryn Donnelly