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Community steps up to help family of single dad killed on South Side
and Ed Runyan
YOUNGSTOWN
The South Side store where a clerk was killed earlier this week was slated to reopen this morning as the community comes together in an effort to raise funds for the support of his children.
Christopher V. Weston, 44, of Lordstown, died in the Breaden Market on Tuesday afternoon. A neighbor across the street went into the store at 1026 Overland Ave. to buy groceries and use the telephone and found him behind the counter.
Police say Weston had been shot twice in the back. His body was found about noon.
Since the shooting, members of the community have opened two accounts to raise money for the family.
James Weston, Christopher Weston’s brother, said he cannot think of any immediate needs the family might have, but they are deeply moved at the level of community support.
“We are overwhelmed, especially my mom. After something like this happens, you think the world is just [a mess], but then you have all these people come forward and just want to help. It is really a wonderful thing,” he said.
The staff at Lordstown Elementary School has created a bank account called the Weston Family Fund to provide aid to Weston’s two sons. The boys had been dealing with the loss of their mother earlier in the year.
“They’re both great boys,” said Sharon Sinn, a secretary at the school, where Steven Weston, 8, and his brother, Christopher Weston Jr., 12, go to school.
Steven is in second grade, and Christopher is a fifth-grader.
“Just from the staff at the building, we’ve already raised $1,000,” Sinn said. “I’ve had so many calls this morning” from people wanting to know what they can do to help.
The account is open at the Associated School Employees Credit Union, which has offices in North Jackson, Boardman, Lordstown, Champion, Warren and Austintown.
A second fund has been started by the amateur radio operators of the area at Key Bank. The name of the fund is The Christopher Weston Fund.
Jim Cessna, group representative, said the fund was started at 1 p.m. Thursday and had raised $1,250 in the first six hours. He said members of the group were moved to action after hearing the story.
“When I heard the story, it killed me,” Cessna said. “This is a group effort of our amateur radio operators. Our thought process is to take the money and buy them some Christmas gifts before Christmas, and the rest of the money could go for the care of the kids.”
Cessna said the group hopes to raise as much money as possible.
Weston worked about four years as a repairman for store owner George Rafidi, and had opened the store for Rafidi that day. Police have made no arrests in the case but are asking the public for help in identifying the person or people responsible.