CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A GoFundMe campaign overseen by some Chicago rabbis for the family of a 9-year-old boy hit and killed by an off-duty police officer on Wednesday night while riding his bike raised more than $130,000 in one day.
The fundraiser for the family of Hershel Weinberger, overseen by three rabbis, has a goal of $250,000 and was more than half-way there in a day.
Hershel Weinberger, 9, was riding his bike through a crosswalk on the 7300 block of North Sacramento, near his family’s home in West Rogers Park, when he was hit by a pick-up truck driven by the 48-year-old off-duty CPD officer.
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Hershel was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston where he died, according to police. The family told police he was heading home after playing at a friend’s house.
“I have seen him riding his bike, yeah. I’ve seen the family outside,” Katherine Romb, who is neighbors with Hershel’s family, told CBS 2. “It’s a tragedy, it really is. This is a heavily-traveled street, and unfortunately, a lot of cars don’t stop at the stop sign.”
Hershel Weinberger’s funeral was Thursday.
Family friend Ruth Wait spoke to CBS 2.
“Very energetic, sweet, big smile, a really bright friendly face,” Wait said. “It’s like gut-wrenching. The whole thing is gut-wrenching.”
Wait said she sees cars speeding in the neighborhood all the time.
“You can just see it,” Wait said. “I mean, you can just stand here, and yeah, it happens all the time...Speeding, going through stops signs.
“I feel like the most important thing that we can do as a community is take action and try to do whatever it takes to first comfort their family, and two, make this a preventable circumstance in our community,” Wait added.
FOP President John Catanzara told the Sun Times the 48-year-old officer said he didn’t see the boy. He also said the officer passed a breathalyzer test.
“It’s just a tragedy. And any person could be in his shoes. This just happens to be a Chicago police officer,” Catanzara told the Sun-Times. “Our hearts go out to the family. This officer is certainly never going to forget that. It’s sad all-around.”
Police said no citations or charges have been filed.
Baruch Hertz, a rabbi at Congregation B’nei Ruven, said Hershel “was a loved kid. He was a very nice boy, had a smile on his face at all times...It’s a huge shock for the community.”
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