Warren gas station shooting: Community grief exploited by fake fundraiser
The family would discover, while they were grieving, that someone had organized a fundraiser with the intention of keeping all the proceeds for themselves.
Warren, Michigan (FOX 2):It is a tragedy that cannot be endured. Shortly before Christmas, a father is shot and killed at a gas station in Warren.
The family would discover, while they were grieving, that someone had organized a fundraiser with the intention of keeping all the proceeds for themselves.
Stephen Zaner found out his younger brother had been shot and died early on Sunday morning.
While taking a break from his work as a chef at this Warren burger joint, 38-year-old Brandon Zaner walked to a nearby gas station for a cup of coffee when the alleged shooter entered, visibly unhappy.
Brandon texted his mother after going outside. At 9 Mile and Dequindre, 45-year-old Al Williams allegedly returned 15 minutes later brandishing a gun, shot Brandon in the chest, and then fled the scene.
Highlighted
A shooting outside a Warren motel claims the life of a father of two. Although the victim died there, authorities think the sequence of events that led to the shooting began elsewhere.
Brandon was given a funeral the day after Christmas.
The accused shooter was charged with second-degree murder and three other offenses, and he was refused bail.
In addition to setting aside money to aid with the care of the children, who are eight and twelve years old, Stephen and the rest of the family created a GoFundMe campaign to pay for the funeral expenses.
They then suffered a second blow.
In an attempt to profit on the generosity of others, an impostor copied and pasted the content from the authentic page onto a fake one.
The phony was located on HopeFundMe, a website that was taken off following several complaints.
The page is operational.
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