San Bernardino Mourns as Business Owner Laura Ann Carleton Falls Victim to Fatal Shooting
The community of San Bernardino, California, is reeling from a tragic incident that claimed the life of 66-year-old Laura Ann Carleton on Friday, August 18, 2023. A clothing store owner in the county, Carleton was fatally shot by a man who took offense to an LGBTQ+ Pride flag displayed outside her store.
The armed suspect, responsible for the slaying of the business owner, was swiftly located by authorities and subsequently engaged in a brief confrontation, leading to his own demise. The identity of the suspect has not yet been disclosed.
Carleton’s untimely death has sparked widespread outrage across the nation. Although she wasn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, The Guardian reported that Carleton was an ally who fervently supported LGBTQ+ rights. Her passing leaves behind a grieving husband and nine children.
A prominent figure in San Bernardino, Laura Ann Carleton was recognized as the founder of Mag Pi, a Cedar Glen-based clothing store, according to CNN. Hollywood director Paul Feig, a close friend of Carleton’s, attested to her deep commitment to LGBTQ+ causes. On her Mag Pi store website, Carleton shared that she was a mother to a blended family of nine children and had been married for nearly three decades.
NPR revealed that Carleton embarked on her career after studying at the Art Center School of Design. Her dedication to the fashion industry led her to serve as an executive at Kenneth Cole for nearly 15 years.
The tragic incident unfolded when an unidentified gunman arrived at Mag Pi around 5 pm on August 15, 2023. Engaging in a heated argument with Carleton, the suspect allegedly hurled homophobic slurs. Tragically, when Carleton defended the LGBTQ+ Pride flags displayed outside her store, she was fatally shot. Law enforcement officials confirmed her death at the scene.
Laura Carleton was hanging a rainbow pride flag in front of her shop in Lake Arrowhead on Friday when she was shot to death by a local man who was convinced that gays and trans people are evil and deserve to die. That’s where we are today, folks. Words matter. pic.twitter.com/oGoJik4vMc
— JohnRJohnson (@JRobertJohnson4) August 20, 2023
The courage displayed by Laura Ann Carleton in confronting the alleged homophobe has garnered praise from the local community. The Mountain Provisions Cooperative paid tribute to her in a heartfelt public statement, and numerous community members expressed the profound impact she had within the area. As San Bernardino mourns the loss of a beloved business owner, Carleton’s legacy as an ally and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights lives on.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
