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Antonio “Espn” Yarger Jr, 7, of Erie, was shot in the head-on while on the sidewalk near his home at the corner of Downing Avenue and Fairmount Parkway, Erie police said on Friday.
Yarger was carried to his home by his grandmother and aunt, then taken to UPMC Hamot in critical condition, once he was stabilized he was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where he died on the fifth floor of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, according to a GoFundMe post started by the family.
His mother Raquel Coleman was “pleased with the level of care, he received the most uplifting, extraordinary care” and thanked his nurses, “especially Maddie, Katie, and Lauren. You guys were like angels sent from heaven to take care of him. Also shoutout to Lori and Laniya at the front desk. They made it so easy during such a difficult time. We appreciate you guys to the fullest!!!,” she said in an updated post on the page.
She describes her son as “such an amazingly loving young man, smart and full of life.”
His community took to Facebook to share their prayers for him over the weekend.
The GoFundMe originally started to cover his medical expenses— which continues so the family can also pay for his funeral costs— has raised over $15,500 of a $27,000 goal from more than 360 donors as of Tuesday afternoon.
If you would like to donate to the campaign you can do so here.
Anyone with information about the shooter and any witnesses of the shooting is asked to continue the Erie police.
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