Mother of slain Chicago 9-year-old defends purchase of new car on social media
CHICAGO — The mother of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, who was fatally shot in Chicago, is defending her purchase of a new car on social media.
Karla Lee posted several videos to Instagram Saturday morning after a flurry of social media posts accused her of using money from her son’s GoFundMe account to buy the car. Lee says she used her own money.
“I got this s*** for my protection…I’m pretty sure that’s something my son would have wanted me to do,” she said in one of the videos. In another video, she says she was afraid of being targeted if she took public transportation.
The GoFundMe account was reportedly created by one of Lee’s friends “to help her lay her son to rest.” As of Saturday afternoon, the account had raised nearly $17,500.
Police say someone targeted and lured Tyshawn into an alley in the 8000-block of South Damen Monday afternoon and shot him multiple times. They believe it was connected to an on-going gang dispute involving the boy’s father.
