A Missouri boy saddened by a deadly shooting at a local Applebee’s earlier this week has decided to turn his devastation into donations.
Cooper Wallweber and his family learned about the Monday shooting at a St. John Applebee’s that claimed the life of one woman, Kimberly Ratliff-Penton, and injured two others, including Arlydia Bufford, a local firefighter, according to news station KMOV.
The 20-year-old volunteer firefighter was sitting in a booth with other first responders when the shooter opened fire. Police have charged Courtney Demond Washington in the triple shooting.
Cooper wanted to find a way to help Bufford, who was critically injured in the shooting.
“She got shot really bad and was in the hospital,” Cooper said.
With the help of his older sister, Olivia, the St. Peters 5-year-old set up a lemonade stand on the side of the road near the Kinloch Fire Protection station where Bufford works. Cooper hoped to raise money during the few hours that he provided the drive-thru lemonade services. The refreshers were selling for $1 a cup.
Fellow firefighters, EMTs, police officers and civilians came by to support their efforts. Olivia told KMOV she was amazed after one woman donated $100 for one cup of lemonade.
“I broke down and cried,” Olivia said. “I didn’t know how to feel. I was just stunned. I expected maybe $100-$200, and we ended up with over $1,000.”
The siblings plan to meet with Bufford’s mother to donate the $1,132 raised to help with her hospital bill.
Though the volunteer firefighter was first listed as having life-threatening injuries, she is now in serious-but-stable condition.
Outside of Cooper’s efforts, nearly $19,000 has been raised to help with Bufford’s medical expenses via a GoFundMe page. The family hopes to raise $30,000.
"She is a fighter and we will stand by her for the long road ahead. With her family's blessing the Kinloch Fire Protection District is hosting this Gofundme Page to raise money towards her medical bills and for her recovery," reads the GoFundMe page.
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