Donors raise over $1M for Texas church shooting victims in just 2 days

Various GoFundMe campaigns have raised $1,077,272 by 16,185 donors so far.

ByABC News
November 8, 2017, 1:38 PM

— -- Over a dozen campaigns set up on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe have raised more than $1 million for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at a rural Texas church.

A gunman, identified by authorities as 26-year-old Devin Kelley, opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 40 miles southeast of San Antonio. At least 26 people, including an unborn child, were killed and 20 other parishioners were wounded, including 10 critically, police said.

In the wake of the horrific rampage, at least 14 GoFundMe campaigns set up for victims and their grieving families have raised $1,077,272 by 16,185 donors in just two days as of Wednesday morning. Authorities officially identified the victims today.

Bryan and Karla Holcombe are seen here in this undated file photo.
Facebook

The Holcombe family

Eight Holcombe family members, and one pregnant family member's unborn child, were killed in the gunfire.

Bryan Holcombe, an associate pastor at the First Baptist Church, was among the dead, as well Karla Holcombe, his wife of about four decades, according to Bryan Holcombe's parents, Joe and Claryce Holcombe.

Bryan and Karla Holcombe’s 36-year-old son, Marc Daniel Holcombe, was also killed.

Marc Daniel Holcombe’s 1-year-old daughter, Noah Holcombe, died as well.

Crystal Holcombe, a victim of the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Facebook via Reuters

Crystal Holcombe, the wife of John Holcombe, who is the son of Bryan and Karla Holcombe, was also killed. Crystal Holcombe -- a mother of five -- was eight months pregnant, her cousin said, according to The Associated Press. Three of her children, Emily, Megan and Greg, died with her. Police counted the unborn child in the death toll. Crystal Holcombe is survived by her husband and two of her children.

At least five separate GoFundMe campaigns have been created to raise money for the Holcombe family, mostly to cover funeral and medical expenses:

  • The "Church Shooting: Holcombe Family" campaign raised $508,398 by 7,594 donors in two days.

  • The "John Holcombe Family Funeral" campaign raised $226,580 by 3,335 donors in one day.

  • The "8 Family Members Lost - TX shooting" raised $8,530 by 136 donors in one day.

  • The "Texas Church Shooting" campaign for the Holcombes raised $3,550 by 28 donors in one day.

  • The "Travel Expense for Church Shooting" campaign raised $13,657 by 223 donors in one day to help JoCheryl Holcombe and her daughter, Amber, travel to Sutherland Springs to be with their grieving family and to cover any counseling costs, according to the page.

  • Shani and Bob Corrigan are seen here in this undated file photo.
    Facebook

    The Corrigan family

    Robert Corrigan and his wife, Shani Corrigan, were among those killed, his sister, Sharon, told ABC News.

    A woman who says she is Shani's sister created a GoFundMe campaign called "Corrigan Memorial Fund," which raised $15,353 by 168 donors in one day. The money will go to the deceased couple's son's to pay for funeral expenses, according to the page.

    A candlelight vigil is observed on Nov. 5, 2017, following the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
    Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images

    The Ward family

    Joann Ward and her two daughters, Brooke Ward and Emily Garza, were among the dead, Joann Ward's sister-in-law, Leslie, told ABC News.

    Joann Ward is survived by her husband, Chris, and 5-year-old son Ryland, who was shot several times and hospitalized, family said.

    A man who says he is Joann Ward's uncle created a GoFundMe campaign called the "Sutherland Springs Mom & Children," which raised $46,863 by 741 donors in one day. The funds will go toward Ryland's medical expenses, according to the page.

    A woman who says Ryland is her cousin's son created a separate GoFundMe campaign for Ryland titled "Hospital bills for my cousin's son," which raised $85,515 by 1,728 donors in two days, according to the page.

    Haley Krueger, pictured, was killed in the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5, 2017.
    Krueger Family

    Haley Krueger

    Haley Krueger, 16, was killed in the shooting, according to her mother.

    A girl who describes herself as a friend of Krueger's mother created a GoFundMe campaign called "Haley Krueger: Church Tragedy," which raised $19,742 by 315 donors in one day. The money will go to the family to "take care of the expenses that are to come from the loss of their beautiful daughter," according to the page.

    Tara Elyse McNulty is seen here in this undated file photo.
    Facebook

    Tara McNulty

    Tara Elyse McNulty died in the shooting, according to her close friend, who posted on Facebook about her death.

    "My best friend, my souls sister ... I love you so much. My heart is broken," she wrote.

    A GoFundMe campaign titled "Memorial Fund for Tara," which describes McNulty as a "great employee," raised $12,838 by 207 donors in one day.

    Matthew Mata and Erika Gonzalez participate in a memorial service for the victims of Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Nov. 6, 2017.
    Jay Janner/Statesman.com via AP

    The Marshall family

    Robert Scott Marshall and his wife, Karen Marshall, were among the deceased, a sister of Robert Scott Marshall, who went by Scott, told ABC News. The couple was visiting the First Baptist Church for the first time when gunfire erupted, the sister said.

    A man who describes the couple as "friends," created a GoFundMe campaign called "Marshall Family," which raised $3,900 by 71 donors in one day.

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott consoles Ann Montgomery, a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, during a candlelight vigil for the victims of a fatal shooting at the church, Nov. 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

    The community of Sutherland Springs

    At least three different GoFundMe campaigns were set up to help the small community of Sutherland Springs recover from the tragedy:

  • The "FBC Sutherland Springs Shooting" campaign raised $87,704 by 1,216 donors in two days.

  • The "Sutherland Springs Victim Fund" campaign raised $35,752 by 310 donors in two days.

  • The "Sutherland Springs Support Fund" campaign raised $8,889 from 113 people in two days.

  • Flags mark evidence on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Nov. 6, 2017, a day after the mass shooting.
    Jay Janner/Statesman.com via AP

    Other funds

    The First Baptist Church has set up a PayPal link on its website for people to donate to families of the victims. The church said, "Be cautious of the existing GoFundMe campaigns. We're in the process of setting up the official GoFundMe account, and will be listing the campaigns we can verify sending funds to the families."

    Meanwhile, Wilson County District Attorney Audrey Louis said the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Fund has approved distributing $6,500 for each victim to help with funeral expenses.

    "In addition to that, there is a company that has come forward that has agreed to donate all their caskets to all of the victims," Louis said at a press conference Tuesday. "We are grateful for that person and their service to our community."

    ABC News' Michael DelMoro, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Dennis Powell, Emily Shapiro, Lisa Sivertsen and Zunaira Zaki contributed to this report.

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