A California man was shot and killed by authorities after fatally shooting a female storekeeper following a dispute over a pride flag displayed in her shop.
Deputies responded at around 5:00 p.m. to reports of a shooting at the Mag Pi clothing store in Lake Arrowhead, California. There, they found the store's owner, Laura Ann Carleton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department announced a news release.
Storekeeper Killed After Dispute Over Pride Flag
Additionally, the suspect, who has not yet been identified, was said to have run away from the shooting scene. The news release noted that through further investigation, detectives learned that the killer made disparaging remarks about a rainbow-colored flag displayed outside Carleton's store before the fatal shooting.
The sheriff's department said that the suspect was armed when deputies confronted him and that he was killed in a "lethal force encounter" as the investigation continues. The website of the Mag Pi store described the owner as a mother of nine children who has been married for 28 years, as per NBC News.
Carleton previously studied at the Art Center School of Design and has had a long career in fashion, including working as an executive at Kenneth Cole for 15 years. On Saturday, a local grocery store, Mountain Provisions Cooperative, said that Carleton had been pivotal in helping organize a free store following a blizzard that struck the area earlier this year.
In the social media post, the store said that Carleton was a "pillar in our community" and an immovable force in her values for equality, love, and justice. Additionally, the store encouraged the public to "fly your flags in honor of Lauri."
In an Instagram post, Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ_ said that Carleton did not identify as a member of the queer community but was an advocate "for everyone in the community." The organization added that the storekeeper's unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and her dedication touched many people's lives.
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LGBTQ Rights
Hollywood director Paul Feig also described 66-year-old Carleton as a "wonderful friend," posting an image of them together. According to BBC, he said that his friend died after confronting the suspect who ripped down the pride flag at her store.
On Instagram, Feig said that he was "devastated" to learn about the death of Carleton, mourning the loss of the family and the LGBTQ+ community. The director said that such types of intolerance need to end.
The crime comes as LGBTQ rights in the United States are a controversial topic for many lawmakers and the public. In Massachusetts, a Catholic school system issued a new policy that ordered its students to use the names and pronouns assigned to them at their birth.
The school also said that they should conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their biological sex. The announcement immediately drew criticism in the latest clash between religious leaders and supporters of gender and sexual fluidity, said the New York Times.
