Shooting Clean Up & Recovery
Donation protected
Early in the morning of December 10th, I was woken up by a series of gunshots, very loud and very nearby. Terrified, and thinking the shots were coming from outside, I dropped to the floor behind my bed, and called 911. As it turned out, the shots had been fired in the room above my bedroom, in the second floor unit of our duplex. Two young men were killed and another seriously injured in the shooting, while three other young people barely escaped. Numerous families are now mourning their lost sons, brothers and friends, and the lives of many others were forever damaged by this tragic and traumatic experience.
The young women who lived in the unit were single mothers struggling to get by. The shooter was apparently a man jealous of his ex-girlfriend’s new relationship. The police conducted an intense investigation, and have arrested and charged a young man who I believe is indeed the shooter.
With the support of friends and family, I am slowly dealing with the trail of physical and emotional damage left by this violent episode in my own life and home, while trying to support the other people impacted by this violence as they piece their lives back together as best I can.
In addition to friends and family, my neighbors have been a great support – reminding me of what a wonderful community we have created here! On Sunday we got together to ‘Light Up Little Bohemia’, after which they cleaned up broken glass on my porch roof, and helped me to face the scene upstairs for the first time. Once we get through the next couple of weeks, my church and neighborhood communities together plan to host a healing and cleansing ceremony here, and we will invite all those affected.
Many of you have asked what you can do to help. The truth is that I am overwhelmed by the clean up and repair needs resulting fromthe shooting and crime scene investigation, and the belongings left in the apartment by the former residents who have fled in shock and ongoing fear for their lives.
I am asking for your financial help to assist me in dealing with these unexpected challenges. I also want to be able to help my former tenant, an amazingly resilient young woman who is still reeling from the recent loss of her baby daughter, to get back on her feet and move forward.
I am hoping to raise:
$1000 for the insurance deductible
$2500 for clean up costs that will not be covered by insurance
$1500 to cover first and last months’ rent for my former tenant
If you cannot contribute financially…Prayers are also gratefully accepted!! Thank you for your love and support.
One more thing: The family of one of the shooting victims is raising money to pay for his burial expenses: www.gofundme.com/tueabwda
The young women who lived in the unit were single mothers struggling to get by. The shooter was apparently a man jealous of his ex-girlfriend’s new relationship. The police conducted an intense investigation, and have arrested and charged a young man who I believe is indeed the shooter.
With the support of friends and family, I am slowly dealing with the trail of physical and emotional damage left by this violent episode in my own life and home, while trying to support the other people impacted by this violence as they piece their lives back together as best I can.
In addition to friends and family, my neighbors have been a great support – reminding me of what a wonderful community we have created here! On Sunday we got together to ‘Light Up Little Bohemia’, after which they cleaned up broken glass on my porch roof, and helped me to face the scene upstairs for the first time. Once we get through the next couple of weeks, my church and neighborhood communities together plan to host a healing and cleansing ceremony here, and we will invite all those affected.
Many of you have asked what you can do to help. The truth is that I am overwhelmed by the clean up and repair needs resulting fromthe shooting and crime scene investigation, and the belongings left in the apartment by the former residents who have fled in shock and ongoing fear for their lives.
I am asking for your financial help to assist me in dealing with these unexpected challenges. I also want to be able to help my former tenant, an amazingly resilient young woman who is still reeling from the recent loss of her baby daughter, to get back on her feet and move forward.
I am hoping to raise:
$1000 for the insurance deductible
$2500 for clean up costs that will not be covered by insurance
$1500 to cover first and last months’ rent for my former tenant
If you cannot contribute financially…Prayers are also gratefully accepted!! Thank you for your love and support.
One more thing: The family of one of the shooting victims is raising money to pay for his burial expenses: www.gofundme.com/tueabwda
Organizer
Sarah Gleason
Organizer
St. Paul, MN