US shop owner and friend of Hollywood director Paul Feig shot dead in California over Pride flag display

A US shop owner has been shot dead following an altercation over a Pride flag being displayed outsider her business.

Laura Ann Carleton was found with a gunshot wound at her Mag Pi shop in Cedar Glen, California on Friday. The suspect, who fled the scene allegedly still armed, was later killed by police nearby.

Ms Carleton was a close friend of famous Hollywood director Paul Feig, who payed a loving tribute to the 66-year-old on social media. He described her as a "wonderful friend".

Police say the suspect made "disparaging remarks" about the rainbow flag before shooting the victim. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department located the suspect, who was armed with a handgun. The force confirmed "a lethal force encounter occurred and the suspect was pronounced deceased".

Feig - famous for films including Bridesmaids and Spy, as well as TV series such as Freeks and Geeks - posted a statement on his Instagram account, which says: "Our wonderful friend Lauri Carlton was murdered yesterday in her store @magpi_shop in Lake Arrowhead by a 27 year old man who didn’t like that she had a large pride flag hanging outside of her shop. He ripped it down and when she confronted him about it he shot and killed her.