Cedar Glen store owner shot by man who confronted her about Pride flag; suspect identified
A Cedar Glen store owner was fatally shot by a man who confronted her about a Pride flag flying outside of her store late Friday evening.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies were dispatched to the store, a Mag.Pi boutique on Hook Creek Road, at around 5 p.m. after learning of the shooting. They arrived to find the store owner, 66-year-old Laura Ann Carleton, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
Investigators learned that prior to the shooting, the suspect tore down the Pride flag that was hanging outside of the clothing store and yelled "many homophobic slurs towards Carleton."
They say that Carleton then confronted the suspect, who shot and killed her before running from the scene.
A witness followed the suspect and pointed authorities in his direction a short time later, said SBCSD's public information officer. He was found walking east on Torrey Road, near Rause Ranch Road.
When deputies attempted to arrest the suspect, who has been identified as 27-year-old Cedar Glen resident Travis Ikeguchi, he reportedly fired several shots in their direction, striking their patrol vehicles.
"Deputies returned fire and struck the suspect," said San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus during a press conference on Monday. "Despite life-saving measures, Ikeguchi succumbed to his injuries at the scene."
A firearm was recovered from the scene, which was not registered to Ikeguchi, Sheriff Dicus noted.
The day before the shooting, Ikeguchi's family reported that he had been missing to the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station. A further search of social media platforms that he used reportedly showed posts that supported anti-law enforcement content and others that were critical of the LGBTQ+ community, SBCSD's PIO said during Monday's press conference.
"From a preliminary standpoint, it looks like the suspect acted alone, but we want to be sure that that's the case, and there are no hate groups or anything else associated to this," said Sheriff Dicus. "That's why this is still an ongoing investigation."
No deputies were hurt in the encounter.
"Last night, we suffered the tragic loss of Lauri Carleton, owner of Mag.Pi boutique and beloved member of the Cedar Glen community," Rowe's statement said. "This senseless act of hate and violence is unthinkable and I stand with my mountain communities as we mourn this incredible loss. Everyone deserves to live free of hate and discrimination and practice their constitutional right of freedom of speech. Lauri was a remarkable member of the community and I send my deepest condolences to her family in this time of grief."
