Fundraiser for Slain Guard Gets $150K From Kanye

He made huge donation to family of Jemel Roberson
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 19, 2018 12:21 AM CST
Kanye Gives $150K to Family of Security Guard Killed by Police
This photo provided by Avontea Boose shows her baby Tristan Roberson and the boy's father Jemel Roberson.   (Avontea Boose via AP)

A GoFundMe fundraiser for the family of a black security guard shot dead by police soared past its goal after a massive donation from none other than Kanye West. The rapper donated $150,000 to help the family of Jemel Roberson, a bar security guard who was killed by a white officer while holding a shooting suspect at gunpoint in Robbins, around 20 miles south of Chicago, Fox reports. "Jemel's life was tragically and unexpectedly cut short ... as he tried to save others from senseless violence," the fundraiser states. Witnesses say Jemel was wearing a hat and shirt that said "Security" and they shouted at police that he was a security guard. Friends say the 26-year-old hoped to become a Chicago police officer and he was planning to take the entrance exam next month.

Numerous lawmakers have spoken out about the Nov. 11 shooting, CNN reports. "Jemel Roberson was a young father and a security guard who aspired to one day become a police officer," tweeted Sen. Cory Booker. He "was doing his job, subduing a shooter, when he was killed by a police officer. Words can't begin to describe my horror and outrage." Relatives have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit and the officer who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave. Roberson had a 9-month-old son with partner Avontea Boose, and they had been preparing to announce a second pregnancy to their families. (Lawyers say that when he was shot, Roberson was working overtime to support his family.)

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