Killer in Pride flag dispute appears to have posted anti-LGBTQ+ rants and conspiracies online

The man authorities say shot and killed a Lake Arrowhead shop owner last week after a confrontation over a pride flag has been identified.

Travis Ikeguchi, 27, hurled homophobic slurs at Laura Ann Carleton on Friday during an argument the two had at her store, Mag.Pi, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

Authorities said Ikeguchi made “several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store.” The heated argument then turned violent, and Ikeguchi fatally shot Carleton, 66, before running away, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies tracked the man, identified on Monday as Ikeguchi, and say they shot him to death after he opened fire, the department said.

California

A pride flag, an argument and gunfire: The senseless killing of Laura Ann Carleton

Friends and family say the slain Lake Arrowhead shop owner and mother of nine was a pillar in the community, equal parts entrepreneur and advocate.

Aug. 22, 2023

Ikeguchi appeared to have an account on the social media platform Gab, where a user with his name routinely posted anti-LGBTQ+ screeds, anti-police rhetoric and conspiratorial content.

“America must repent for a lot of things we allow; abortion/baby killing, sexual immortality, pornography, same-sex marriages, LGBTQP/pedophilia, freemasonry, religiosity, politics, wars, colonialism, the federal reserve,” a post from Friday read.

A post from 2021 said: “We need to STOP COMPROMISING on this LGBT dictatorship and not let them take over our lives!”

An account on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, showed an image of a pride flag set ablaze.

The Times could not immediately verify whether the accounts belonged to Carleton’s alleged killer, but they bear his name and were active until Friday — the day Ikeguchi was shot by police.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the social media posts, which also include rants against law enforcement.

“I know it’s controversial for me to mention the option to kill a police officer, but these police officers are not the servants for the people they are the servants for the laws,” the user wrote in 2021.

Carleton’s killing traumatized residents of Lake Arrowhead and sent shock waves through the global LGBTQ+ community she supported.

“The tragic, targeted killing of Lauri over the pride flag displayed at her Lake Arrowhead store was senseless and, unfortunately, part of a growing number of attacks on LGBTQ people and our allies,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD.