Kanye West has donated $150,000 to the family of Jemel Roberson, the 26-year-old security guard who was killed by police, TMZ reports.
Roberson was working security at Manny's Blue Room Bar in Robbins, Illinois this past week when a gunman opened fire. Roberson was able to subdue the shooter and waited for the authorities. Upon arrival, police shot and killed Roberson. "He had somebody on the ground with his knee in back, with his gun in his back like, 'Don’t move,'" witness Adam Harris told local station WGN. "Everybody was screaming out, 'Security!' He was a security guard...And they still did their job, and saw a black man with a gun, and basically killed him."
Kanye made multiple donations of $15,000 via a GoFundMe page that was set up to help Roberson's family. The page's goal of $150,000 has been exceeded and currently stands at $302,625.
The killing of Roberson is being "investigated."
"A Midlothian officer encountered a subject with a gun and was involved in an officer-involved shooting. The subject the officer shot was later pronounced deceased at an area hospital," Chief Daniel Delaney of the Midlothian Police Department said via a statement.
"Jemel Roberson was a young man who was greatly loved by all who knew him. He was the light of his mother Beatrice's life, and was a devoted loving son. Jemel was a gifted basketball player and musician, and his love for God and his family were at the forefront of his life," the GoFundMe page reads. "Sadly, Jemel's life was tragically and unexpectedly cut short this morning as he tried to save others from senseless violence. Today, many remember him as a hero; one who put others before himself."
In related-news, Kanye donated $73,540 and then another $126,460 to Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia. Kanye made the latter donation after tweeting out that he would be distancing himself from politics after receiving considerable push back for comments he made about slavery, as well as his support for Donald Trump. "My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in," Kanye wrote. "I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!"
My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!
