The incident occurred at a clothing store called Mag Pi in Cedar Glen, and deputies from the sheriff's office responded to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Carleton with a gunshot wound and she was pronounced dead at the store. According to authorities, during their investigation, detectives learned that the suspect had made derogatory remarks about the rainbow flag displayed outside the store before shooting Carleton.

The suspect, who has not been identified, fled the scene on foot after the shooting. However, police were able to track him down and found him in possession of a handgun later that same day. The situation escalated when deputies attempted to approach him, resulting in a "lethal force encounter" where the suspect was fatally shot by law enforcement. Thankfully, no deputies were injured during the incident.

Carleton, known as Lauri, was a well-known figure in the community and was described as a “pillar” by local media reports. She was a mother of a blended family of nine children and had been married to the same man for 28 years. Her store, Mag Pi, was known for its support of equality, love, and justice, evident through the display of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag. The community, deeply saddened by her tragic death, has paid tribute to her and encouraged people to fly their flags in her honor.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on the case. However, the shooting remains under investigation as authorities continue their efforts to gather more information about the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.