A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the funeral costs of Demetrius Williams, a Marshall man who was fatally shot by Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies while executing a narcotics search warrant at his home, Thursday.
“Demetrius’ life was taken from him on the day he looked forward to celebrating his daughter’s 8th birthday; instead, her family is asking for help with her latest expense, â€said Demetria McFarland, organizer of GoFundMe and president of Marshall Against Violence.
“Please help his mother, Mrs. Carolyn Jefferson, give her son a proper funeral,” she asked. “There is no amount that is too small or too large. “
Harrison County Sheriff’s Office officials said MPs attended Williams’ home at 604 S. Allen St. at around 11 am to execute a narcotics search warrant to search the home.
Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jay Webb said Williams was the subject of their investigation. Officials said Williams was shot after he allegedly tried to escape in his minivan and struck a deputy in the process.
The family believe otherwise and are seeking answers as to why the 31-year-old son, brother and father of five was shot several times, hitting not the wheels of his van but the back of his head.
McFarland said 100 percent of all donations will go to the grieving family for Williams’ final burial costs. She asks people to have heart, to overcome flaws or insecurity and to empathize with the grieving family.
“I’ve had people I’ve asked for help saying he should have had insurance… or (mention) his lifestyle,†McFarland said. “His lifestyle doesn’t mean anything to me.
“He has a grieving mother who mourns a loss and we have to put him to rest,†she said.
“None of us are perfect. We all have our flaws, â€said McFarland. “No matter what people say about him, no matter what he did or didn’t do, the fact remains that he’s gone and there is his mother here who has to wear the burden of putting his son to rest. “
McFarland, who has seen the shooting deaths of two loved ones – her father and brother – said she knows the stress the family is going through and wants funeral expenses one less burden they will have to worry about. .
“My thing is, we have to let it sit, so let’s do something to make sure it’s one less burden or less strain that his mother will have,†she said. “It’s bad enough that she has to bury her son and she has no response from local law enforcement, including those who claimed her life. She needs help resting her son so that she can go on and start sorting out the problem of what happened to her son.
McFarland encourages anyone who considered himself a friend of Williams or even his classmates from Marshall or TSTC where he majored in welding to support the GoFundMe.
“Funerals are not cheap,†she said. “I hope his friends, classmates and anyone who really cares about him will help us spread the word about GoFundMe to the world.
“For me that’s where the rubber meets the road, if they really cared about ‘Big Mechie,’ Demetrius Williams, if it’s really their ‘homeboy, this is where you show you care.” really of his son; that you really enjoyed the friendship you had with her son by donating on the GoFundMe page or by donating money to Mrs. Jefferson yourself or me, â€said McFarland. “If he really meant to you, take action on your words. “
The president of MAV asks to give heart, especially since the family lost a loved one during the holidays.
“Let’s do what we can to make this vacation a little lighter for them in terms of not having a financial burden to stretch. Let’s be a city or a community that takes this family back and says we support you, â€she said. ” We are here to help you. “
As of Friday evening, $ 330 had been raised towards the goal of $ 5,000.
“Thank you in advance and help his family with your financial contribution and please pray for the family of Jefferson and Williams,†said McFarland.
For more on this story, see the Sunday edition for an interview with the victim’s family.
