Kanye donates $150K to the family of Black security guard killed by cops after he took down robbery suspect
According to CNN, rapper, music producer, and fashion designer Kanye West donated $150,000 to the family of Jemel Roberson, the security guard who was shot and killed by a Robbins, Illinois police officer after stopping the robbery of a bar he was employed at. There was a goal set for the funeral of the 26-year-old security guard on GoFundMe, which West’s donation easily outpaced.
Roberson was killed while an officer outside of Manny’s Blue Room in Midlothian, Illinois, where Roberson worked, was called out to detain a gunman who had returned to the scene after Roberson had stifled his attempt to rob the bar. Witnesses at the scene told CNN that the gunman returned after he was asked to leave by several security officers.
The officer claimed that he gave Roberson “multiple verbal commands to drop the gun and get on the ground” according to a witness statement filed by Illinois State Police which cites witnesses. Beatrice Roberson, Jemel’s mother, filed a lawsuit for $1 million against the officer, who remains unnamed, and the village of Midlothian. Roberson’s killing by the police officer has sparked plenty of outrage and protest from lawmakers such as Cory Booker and Tammy Duckworth. Actress Gabrielle Union also mourned the death of Roberson.
"HE'S ONE OF US!" How is it that WE dont count as "us"? That man in the WH & the NRA are silent when "good guys with guns" was the answer they said This is in the town that raised @DwyaneWade & #JemelRoberson is all of us. He was loved. He was brave & his life was snatched https://t.co/T2NcImjixS
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) November 13, 2018
Roberson was described as a hero to his child by Avontae Boose, who is the mother of his child. Boose told CNN affiliate WLS, “My baby lost his father, his hero, Jemel loved his babies so much.” Kanye West’s $150,000 donation was confirmed by Bart Jackson, a GoFundMe representative. As the creator of the GoFundMe page writes on the behalf of Beatrice Robinson, “Sadly, Jemel’s life was tragically and unexpectedly cut short this morning as he tried to save others from senseless violence.”