Online Hate Sparks Fatal Shooting

A 27-year-old California man named Travis Ikeguchi was identified as the shooter who killed shopowner Laura Ann Carleton over the business owner's Pride flag. Before the murder, Ikeguchi posted anti-LGBT+ content on social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter) and the far-right platform Gab. Disturbing posts, such as images of burning Pride flags, were found on his social media accounts. The incident occurred when Ikeguchi confronted Carleton, a 66-year-old woman, about a rainbow flag outside a store. He pulled out a gun and shot her, then fled the scene but was later apprehended by the police.