California store owner killed for flying Pride flag, suspect shot to death by deputies

San Bernardino County, California, sheriff’s deputies fatally shot an armed man Friday suspected of killing the owner of a local clothing store he disparaged for displaying an LGBTQ Pride flag.

The incident began when deputies responded to an emergency call at the Mag.Pi store about 5 p.m. Friday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

When they arrived they found the owner, Laura Ann Carleton, 66, suffering from a gunshot wound, authorities said. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Her killer, who was armed with a handgun, fled on foot, sheriff’s officials said. A short time later, deputies confronted the suspected gunman near Rouse Ranch Road and Torrey Road and shot him, authorities said.

The man, who has not been identified, died at the scene. Deputies were not injured in the incident.

Sheriff’s officials did not say whether a gun was recovered from the scene or if the shooting of Carleton would be investigated as a possible hate crime. But they said in a news release that “through further investigation, detectives learned the suspect made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store before shooting Carleton.”

Law enforcement agencies in several states, including New York, California and Nebraska, have investigated the destruction of rainbow Pride flags as potential hate crimes.

Colleagues, friends, family and community members who knew Carleton as “Lauri” mourned her death in posts on social media. They brought flowers, flags and banners to the store to honor her life.

Robin Lyles, a close friend of Carleton, owns a store called the Lake House located on the same street as Mag.Pi. On Friday, Lyles was in the Lake House when a panicked customer ran inside and told her to close her store because a gunman had just shot her friend.

“When I left, I stopped and saw her husband and got out and gave him a hug and asked if it was true?” Lyles said. “And he said, ‘yes, she’s gone.’”

The Pride flag outside of Carleton’s store was on the ground, Lyles said.

Carleton began her fashion career when she was a teenager and worked at fashion house Kenneth Cole as an executive for more than 15 years, according to Mag.Pi’s website. She traveled with her husband across the U.S., Europe and South America, and those trips fueled her love for design, fashion, food and other passions. She’s the mother of a blended family of nine children, according to the website.

Lyles said she bonded with Carleton over a mutual love for antique wooden boats and encouraged her friend to open a store in Cedar Glen. Mag.Pi also has a store in Studio City.

“She had great style and panache and knowledge, and she was a just an incredible go-getter,” Lyles said.

The killing sent shock waves across the local community.

Democratic congressional candidate Derek Marshall, who is gay, said Carleton was a huge supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and a “class act.” People within the community described Carleton as “kind” and almost like a “second mom” to them, he said.

“She was very proud of flying the Pride flag,” Marshall said.

The Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+ organization said in an Instagram post that while Carleton didn’t identify as LGBTQ+, she was defending her Pride flags placed in front her shop the night of the shooting.

“Lauri’s unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and her dedication to creating a safe and inclusive space within her shop touched the lives of many,” the group said in a statement. “Her untimely passing in a senseless act of violence has left us all deeply saddened.”