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\nCedar Glen community member, Trish Forest leaves flowers for Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\nCedar Glen visitors, Caelin Beesemyer and Colby Giovacchini grieve in front of the Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton memorial after hearing the news in Cedar Glen on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SBS-L-CARLETON-0822-18.jpg\")
\nLake Arrowhead Resort flies a pride flag in memory of Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\nRows of flower bouquets cover the bullet hole left in the Mag.Pi storefront as a memorial for late Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton in Cedar Glen on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SBS-L-CARLETON-0822-17.jpg\")
\nRows of flowers and pride flags cover the Mag.Pi storefront as a memorial for late Cedar Glen community member Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\nLake Arrowhead Brewery has been a supporter of the LGBT+ community with a Pride Month beer every year. Designs from the past three years\u2019 cans designs are on display on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, in Lake Arrowhead. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SBS-L-CARLETON-0822-12.jpg\")
\nRows of flower bouquets and pride flags cover the Mag.Pi storefront as a memorial for late Cedar Glen community member Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on in Cedar Glen on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SBS-L-CARLETON-0822-10.jpg\")
\nA note addressed to Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton sits outside her store Mag.Pi in Cedar Glen on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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\nCedar Glen community member and store neighbor, Dee Zamora speaks to a customer about the passing of Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SBS-L-CARLETON-0822-11.jpg\")
\nRows of flowers and pride flags cover the Mag.Pi storefront as a memorial for late Cedar Glen community member Laura Ann \u201cLauri\u201d Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tom Aguirre, owner of the Cedar Glen Trading Post a few stores down from the Mag.Pi, emphasized how close-knit the mountain community is. \u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable \u2026 it\u2019s hard to believe that there\u2019s that much hate,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cI\u2019ve lived here 52 years, and you know there have been a few things over the years but nothing quite like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, Aug. 22, the investigation is still ongoing, as the Sheriff\u2019s Department tries to confirm that Ikeguchi was acting alone. Before his death, Ikeguchi posted anti-LGBTQ, anti-police and conspiratorial messages on social media, including X (formerly Twitter) and Gab.<\/p>\n
Carleton is survived by her husband and their nine children.<\/p>\n
Kelsey and Ari Carleton, two of Carleton\u2019s daughters, shared on Instagram\u00a0about how their family is \u201cbroken \u2026 we have a long road ahead of us as we navigate this new reality without our loving matriarch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur beautiful mommy was taken from us in a senseless act of violence,\u201d the sisters wrote on Sunday, Aug. 20. \u201cShe was murdered over a pride flag that she proudly hung on her storefront. Make no mistake, this was a hate crime. Her flags had been torn down before and she always responded by putting up a bigger one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe find peace in knowing she passed quickly in a place she cherished, doing what she loved while fiercely defending something she believed in,\u201d the sisters added, alongside a post sharing family photos and old photos of their parents. \u201cWe are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that our family has received from loved ones and strangers alike, it has provided hope and light in our darkest days. We will continue to advocate for love, equality and acceptance in everything that we do. Love will always triumph hate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Statewide and nationally, reported hate crimes against LGBTQ people are on the rise, according to multiple reports.<\/p>\n
Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said hate crimes against the LGBTQ community rose 52% last year in 42 major cities. Hate crimes against gender non-conforming people, including those in drag, increased 47% during the same period and anti-transgender hate crimes rose 28% during the same period.<\/p>\n
The data is part of a report that will be presented Friday at the August meeting of the California Commission on the State of Hate.<\/p>\n
Across the Inland Empire, LGBTQ organizations responded to the shooting, with many leaders calling it a tragedy.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring a time with much anti-LGBTQ extremism, this tragic and senseless killing is another reminder that anti-LGBTQ rhetoric comes at a cost,\u201d reads a statement from the health equity nonprofit TruEvolution, posted to social media.<\/p>\n
Brock Cavett, an advocacy director with Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride, one of the largest active organizations working to uplift the region\u2019s diverse community, noted that it\u2019s \u201ca scary time to be out and proud.\u201d He emphasized support and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, especially in \u201cmore remote\u201d areas \u2014 but noted that physical and verbal attacks \u201ccan also happen in larger and more progressive cities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cavett urged community allies who might \u201cstart to sink back into the shadows\u201d to be extra vigilant. \u201cThis is the time to continue to be vocal, continue to show that allyship. Allies have the opportunity to be visible supporters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Riverside Pride, which celebrates its\u00a0second Inland Empire Pride Festival in Riverside on Sept. 10, hopes to provide a space at the event where people can honor Carleton and other victims of anti-LGBTQ+ violence, discuss advocacy work and learn about their rights and protections.<\/p>\n
Members of the area\u2019s LGBTQ+ community mourned Carleton\u2019s death. Many are rallying efforts for an upcoming memorial for Carleton, as well as seeking donations to support related causes.<\/p>\n
Wesley Lynn, founder of Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+, said the area has had several openly LGBTQ+ inclusive events without incident \u2014 including a pride festival at the village, a drag queen boat parade in the lake, and a monthly gay night at a local tavern. Lynn said the mountain towns around the lake are all different in terms of demographics; yet even with the area\u2019s growing and diverse population, \u201ceveryone knows each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
More people who identify as LGBTQ+ have also moved up the mountain, Lynn observed, including other business owners and allies who have received nothing but \u201clittle comments here and there.\u201d But he also noticed that more residents are putting up pride flags, openly showing their support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be harder for some people who\u2019ve lived here for generations to accept the change \u2026 but for the most part here, we all get along,\u201d Lynn said. \u201cIt\u2019s eye-opening that something like this could happen to an ally. When something like this happens, it instills fear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bev Eskew, owner and chef of the Spade and Spatula gastropub in neighboring Blue Jay, said that Carleton helped her feel more welcomed to the lakeside community. Eskew called Carleton an \u201cawesome woman and a fierce ally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a queer-owned business I was opening up, and I didn\u2019t feel like there was a lot of support for that up here,\u201d Eskew, who\u2019s known Carleton since 2021, said. \u201c(Lauri) was one of the few that stepped up, and I\u2019m forever grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
She and Carleton were also part of the Mountain Provisions food cooperative, made up of community members who have helped provide food and resources to those in need during the recent winter storms.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe kind of ended up being the mom of the co-op, the heart and the soul; someone you can go and talk to about just about anything,\u201d Eskew said. \u201cShe was an outgoing person and just generally had a heart to support the underdog.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few stores down from the Mag.Pi, at Timberline in the Glen, employees shared stories of Carleton being a \u201cpowerful force,\u201d \u201cbeloved\u201d by locals, and \u201ca woman of great conviction.\u201d \u00a0Mourners remember her for opening her store to pass out supplies during the snowstorms.<\/p>\n
Dee Zamora, a sales associate, said the co-op she helped to create provided free food and clothing for those out of work or who were stranded in the winter storms.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo see a woman with strength and power and conviction, it\u2019s an admirable quality,\u201d said Zamora. \u201cThe best thing we can do is honor her by continuing to give back to the community the way she gave back to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
On its website, the Mountain Provisions co-op is raising money for the Lauri Carleton Memorial Fund. Funds raised will go to initiatives to support LGBTQ+ awareness, equality and inclusion and to support the food co-op.<\/p>\n
Timberline in the Glen sales associate Patricia Walker remembered Carleton as having a \u201cgreat sense of humor, and a strong voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn\u2019t afraid to tell you what she was thinking. You may not always agree with her. But most of the time I did and we\u2019ve gotten along very well. I always thought she was a wonderful addition to Lake Arrowhead.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Lake Arrowhead resident Allison Galindo stopped to bring flowers to the storefront.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is horrible how someone could do this to another person, especially someone like her,\u201d said Galindo. \u201cIt always seems like the good people you know, the people who do so much for others, why would they be targets? I don\u2019t have the answers, it just doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, and to donate to the Lauri Carleton Memorial Fund, visit MountainProvisions.coop\/memorial.<\/p>\n
The San Bernardino County Sheriff\u2019s Department asks anyone with information about Carleton\u2019s shooting to contact the homicide detail at 909-890-4904. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.<\/p>\n