As with many tragedies, the unbearable sadness of the shooting spree that left six dead in northern Michigan's rural Missaukee County spilled over into a GoFundMe page for some of the victims, including 13-year-old hero Bella Padilla Everitt who called 911 after being shot multiple times on Friday, Aug. 14.
"Amanda, Eric, and Bella are a family at the center of an unimaginable tragedy after a mass murder-suicide in Lake City," according to a GoFundMe page asking for support for Eric, Bella's and Amanda's families.
Amanda Everitt, 40, and her son, Eric, 16, died in the mass shooting; daughter Bella was hospitalized and remained in stable condition.
The GoFundMe page notes: "Amanda and Eric lost their lives, and Bella survived after being shot four times."
Kailey Kozminski told the Detroit Free Press that she started the GoFundMe effort to help with funeral costs for Amanda and Eric, and to raise money for long-term support for Bella's future.
"The kids are my cousins and Amanda is my aunt," Kozminski said.
"They are more than what happened to them," she said.
"Bella is a fighter, but she will need all of the help she can get as well. Community needs to wrap arms around each other," said Kozminski, who graduated from Michigan State University in this past spring.
The Detroit Free Press reported earlier that a critically wounded 13-year-old girl was shot multiple times during the shooting spree near Cadillac. Police said the suspected gunman, Chad Hickman, 39, of Lake City, is believed to have died by suicide after killing five people across multiple locations.
Missaukee County mass shooting: Suspect Chad Hickman had violent history
Despite being shot four times, Bella was able to call 911, alert authorities and identify the shooter as Hickman, a family member said earlier on social media.
Hickman's alleged rampage left another man dead at a second location in Missaukee County, and a woman was found dead in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake alongside Hickman, police said.
"In the middle of a nightmare no child should ever have to endure, Bella was still able to call 911 and identify the shooter, showing incredible courage and strength. Bella now faces a long recovery and a future forever changed by this violence," according to the GoFundMe post created by Kozminski.
Donations, according to the post, will help cover funeral expenses for Amanda and her son Eric. The money also will be used for the long-term support for teenager Bella and the costs for Bella's dad, Michael, to stay in the Grand Rapids area during her recovery so he can be by her side, the post said.
Megan Brown, chief communications officer for Munson Healthcare, confirmed Sunday that the Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital did treat one victim of a "tragic local incident on Friday." After being stabilized, Brown said, the victim was transferred to another facility outside of Munson for further treatment.
"We extend our thoughts to everyone impacted by this incident," Brown's statement said.
Northern Michigan mass shooting: 'It's led to a lot of scared people'
Shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, the GoFundMe page indicated that $4,525 of $25,000 had been raised through 30 donations. The GoFundMe page was featured on David Everitt's Facebook account.
On Saturday, Everitt, a Cadillac resident, turned to Facebook to share news that his daughter, Amanda Everitt, and grandson Eric were among those killed.
"This world just lost two beautiful people and one is clinging to life," Everitt said in the poast..
"My daughter Amanda and her two beautiful children were shot in their home yesterday, Amanda and her son Eric went home to be with god and our granddaughter Bella is clinging to life in a Grand Rapids hospital."
"This is my plea to everyone on this planet to teach their children compassion and kindness not hate and violence so parents and family members do not have to bury their children and brothers and sisters. This was a cowardly act by a evil person and I hope hell gives him his due…"
Consumers are warned during such tragic events to pay extra care to avoid any fake pleas for cash. In 2024, for example, one phony GoFundMe page was later shut down after collecting more than $15,000 in light of a late Saturday afternoon shooting that left nine people injured at a Rochester Hills splash pad.
As part of the verification process, GoFundMe did not give any access to money raised in 2024 at any point to the fake fundraiser organizer. When suspicious activity is flagged, the company said, its experts immediately investigate concerns. Sometimes, a fundraiser comes into question simply because it is gaining so much momentum.
A GoFundMe spokesperson on Sunday afternoon verified the GoFundMe page posted by Kozminski.
Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: [email protected]. Follow her on X @tompor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Missaukee County shooting triggers GoFundMe for 911 hero and family