California police have named Travis Ikeguchi as a suspect in the murder of a California business owner shot dead during an argument over the LGBTQ flag.
Ikeguchi, 27, is accused of fatally shooting Laura Ann Carleton, 66, on Friday: he was killed by police shortly after the murder.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Monday that Ikeguchi was heard “shouting numerous homophobic slurs” about the Pride flag at his clothing store before opening fire.
Ikeguchi fled the Carleton store, Mag Pi, on foot and was later killed in a “deadly encounter” with deputies on Friday.
Police said Ikeguchi, of Cedar Glen, Calif., used to post messages critical of the LGBTQ community on several social media platforms.
Carleton, a mother of nine and fashion and footwear veteran beloved among members of the tight-knit mountain community, died “for the values she so selflessly upheld,” friends said in a statement. funeral eulogy.
They also swore that the death of former Kenneth Cole executive “would not be in vain”.
A single bullet hole could be seen in the store window, next to which the mourners had taped a sign reading, “Thank you all for your love.”
Laura Ann Carleton, the owner of the Magpi store in Lake Arrowhead, was killed on Friday following an argument with Travis Ikeguchi – during which he made multiple disparaging remarks about a flag hanging outside the store of the 66-year-old man.
“If you knew Lauri, you know she loved a lot, laughed often and nurtured and protected those she loved,” the village’s Mountain Provisions Cooperative said of the incident. “She was a force, she liked to make jokes and wanted to live as happy a life as possible. We will continue to uphold the values she defended so selflessly. “His death will not be in vain.
That same flag, an apparent show of support from the store owner for members of the queer community, was seen unfurled and on the ground at the scene after Friday’s incident – which left at least one bullet hole in the store facade.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation.
“On Friday, August 18, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a person who was shot at the Mag Pi clothing store on Hook Creek Road,” it said. office.
“When deputies arrived they located the victim, identified as Laura Ann Carleton, with a gunshot wound.
“Emergency medical personnel said Carleton died at the scene.”
While offering nothing to identify the shooter, the update revealed how deputies rushed to the scene after receiving a report of shots being fired outside the clothing store, which usually closes at 18 hours.
They “received updates from Sheriff’s Dispatch indicating that the suspect, who has not been identified, fled on foot and was seen on Torrey Road, east of Highway 173,” said said the cops.
“Deputies located the suspect near Torrey Road and Rause Rancho Road, armed with a handgun.
“When deputies attempted to contact the suspect, an encounter with deadly force occurred and the suspect was pronounced dead.
“No MPs were injured in the incident.”
As for what preceded the initial altercation, the department – which oversees the largest county in the United States – said the suspect “made several derogatory remarks about a rainbow flag that stood in front of the store before shooting Carleton”.
The mother-of-nine owned and operated the store for more than a decade, before she was killed outside the establishment on Friday. Cops said they found her at the scene still in pain before finally pronouncing her dead
“On Friday, August 18, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a person who was shot at the Mag Pi clothing store on Hook Creek Road,” said the office in a statement that revealed the nature of the meeting on Saturday.
That same flag, an apparent show of support from the store owner for members of the LGBTQ+ community, was seen unfurled and on the ground at the scene following Friday’s incident – which left at least one bullet hole in the front of the store.
The Sheriff’s Specialty Investigations Division – Homicide Detail also responded to the scene, at which point they took responsibility for the investigation.
Officers in this detail were the ones who learned the suspect allegedly initiated the encounter by commenting on the Pride flag – before shooting the mother-of-nine just outside the store she had owned and operated for years.
On Sunday, as friends continued to mourn the passing of the late business owner, a colorful shrine could be seen outside the establishment.
The store, which opened in the quaint mountain village just over a decade ago, was one of two fashionable clothing stores operated by Carleton – the other being located on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in Los Angeles.
Carleton – known to her friends as Lauri – split her time with her children and her husband there and in Lake Arrowhead, where the family owned a restored 1920s fisherman’s cabin.
Carleton – known to her friends as Lauri – shares her time with her children and husband there and in Lake Arrowhead, where the family owned a restored 1920s fisherman’s cabin
The store, which opened in the quaint mountain village just over a decade ago, was one of two fashionable clothing stores operated by Carleton – the other being located on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in Los Angeles.
. A biography offered on the woman’s website recalls some of her accomplishments as a renowned fashion figure in Southern California, where she spent years as an executive for companies like Kenneth Cole, before moving on. focus on its stores in Studio City and Lake Arrowhead respectively.
A biography offered on the woman’s website recalls some of her accomplishments as a renowned fashion figure in Southern California.
“Lauri Carleton’s career in fashion began in her early teens, working in the family business at Fred Segal Feet in Los Angeles while attending the Art Center School of Design.
‘From there she ran ‘the’ high-end fashion shoe floor in the United States at Joseph Magnin Century City.
“Eventually she joined Kenneth Cole almost from its inception and remained there for over fifteen years as an executive, building very successful businesses, working with factories and design teams in Italy and Spain and traveling over 200 days a year.
“With a penchant for longevity, she has been married to the same man for 28 years and is the mother of a blended family of nine children, the youngest being identical twins.
“She and her husband have traveled most of the United States, Europe and South America.
“From these travels they nurtured a passion for architecture, design, fine art, food, fashion, and as a result learned to drink and appreciate the beauty, style and brilliance of life”.
After his death, several messages and processions from Quiet Town members surfaced to commemorate Carleton and were broadcast.
After his death, several messages and processions from Quiet Town members surfaced to commemorate Carleton and were broadcast.
One, from the village’s Mountain Provisions Co-operative, remembered her as a ‘pillar in (the) community, an unwavering force in its values of equality, love and justice “.
He said: “If you knew Lauri, you know that she loved very much, laughed often and nurtured and protected those she loved.
“She was a force, she liked to make jokes and wanted to live as happy a life as possible. We will continue to uphold the values she defended so selflessly.
“His death will not be in vain.
