© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Nearly $158,000 Raised for Chicago-Area Beating Victim

gofundme.com

People from across the U.S. have sent gifts and nearly $158,000 has been raised for a Chicago-area mentally disabled teenager who was shown live on Facebook being beaten.  A spokesman for the youth's family says the outpouring has been "heartwarming." 

Neal Strom says several groups have reached out since last week's incident, including police officers from Buffalo, New York.  Strom says he is working with the victim's family to manage proceeds from the online fundraising effort.  

A representative of GoFundMe has said the company will make sure the money reaches the teen's family.  As of this afternoon the effort has raised nearly $158,000 from 5,000 donors.

Four people face battery and hate crimes counts among other charges in the attack.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.