Family of HS Student Gunned Down by Cops For Holding a Pen Crowdfunds For Funeral

August 18, 2017

The family of Tommy Le, who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in King County hours before his graduation from an alternative high school program in Seattle, started a YouCaring page to help with funeral and legal expenses.

The online fundraiser has already brought in $11,000 since it was first created in July for Le’s family, surpassing their goal of $10,000.

The YouCaring page has more than 360 generous donors and counting.

Le, 20, who has been described as “goofy” and “bubbly” by his teachers and schoolmates, was killed on June 14 after officers responded to a call about a man armed with what was initially reported as a knife.

The Sheriff’s Office later reported a week later that Le wasn’t actually carrying a knife with him when he was shot and killed. It turned out that he was holding a pen.

Le had no criminal record and showed now signs of mental illness or violence, his family and friends said.

On July 19, a public forum was held for Tommy Le to search for answers from officials at King County and discuss police intervention in the case.

More than 100 members of the Seattle community gathered at the forum in Mount Baker, including King County John Urquhart, who said he plans to ask the FBI to do its own investigation into the shooting.

“Tommy deserves justice and closure,” the Le family wrote on the YouCaring page. “The family is asking for your generosity to help with funeral and legal expenses in the coming months as we continue to fight for justice. Any unused funds will be donated to charity.”

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