A US shop owner was shot dead after a dispute over a Pride flag displayed outside her business.
Police said Laura Ann Carleton, 66, was found with a bullet wound at her Mag Pi shop in Cedar Glen, California, on Friday.
A suspect – who fled the scene on foot – was killed by police when found nearby, allegedly still armed.
Ms Carleton was described as a “wonderful friend” by Hollywood director Paul Feig, who posted an image of them together.
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The suspect made “disparaging remarks” about the rainbow flag before shooting the victim, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers then located the suspect, armed with a handgun, the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department said.
At this point, “a lethal force encounter occurred and the suspect was pronounced deceased”.
Feig – known for films such as Bridesmaids as well as the Freaks and Geeks TV series – said his friend had been shot after confronting the suspect for ripping down the flag.
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He said in an instagram post he was “devastated” for Ms Carleton’s family and the LGBTQ+ community, “for whom Lauri was such a true ally”.
“This intolerance has to end,” he wrote. “Anyone using hateful language against the LGBTQ+ community has to realise their words matter, that their words can inspire violence against innocent loving people.”
Local group Lake Arrowhead LGBT said the incident marked a “very sad day” for the area and that Ms Carleton, a “friend and supporter”, would be “truly missed”.
She was “murdered defending her LGBTQ+ Pride flags in front of her store”, the group wrote in its own instagram post.
“Lauri did not identify as LGBTQ+, but spent her time helping & advocating for everyone in the community.”
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