In a GoFundMe campaign created two hours ago as of press time, someone named Tanesha Edwards (not Facebook verified) writes:
We spent two years rehabbing our house until through hard work and dedication we made it a home. Recently our community has been in turmoil and it has literally hit home,our home was vandalized and set fire. My mother has two expecting daughters, a son, granddaughter and great grandson who have all lost their possessions but still are happy no lives were lost and no one was hurt. We would appreciate any donations to rebuild.
We have archived the above campaign here.
As you may or may not have heard, the poo hit the fan in Milwaukee a few days ago after Sylville Smith was shot and killed by police on Saturday. Brew City has been hit with rioting, vandalism, and violence since. Things have quieted down a bit now that the National Guard is in town, but the entire thing is still raw and the full damage hasn’t been assessed yet.
That said, local channel WDJT is reporting that the fire at N 41st and W Burleigh Streets was not, in fact, related to violence. Fox6 says officials told them the ‘bulk of the fire’ occurred on the second floor of the home. You can also see WISN chopper footage of the aftermath of the fire here. That neighborhood — Sherman Park — has been at the center of the majority of Milwaukee turmoil in the last few days.
Details are sparse, obviously, but we did get the following statement from Milwaukee PD Public Information Officer Sgt. Tim Gauerke:
The Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments responded to a suspicious fire that happened on Monday, August 15, 2016, around 4:30 a.m. at 3072 N. Sherman Boulevard. A fire was found in the house by witnesses. MFD extinguished the fire and the total estimated damage is $75000 to the structure. MPD is investigating the cause of the fire.
Are we saying this GoFundMe campaign is absolutely fraudulent? Nope. Are we saying for the 1000th time that you should be careful donating to any campaign put up in the wake of a calamitous event, especially if you don’t have all the facts? Yup.
We’ll update when we have more. Just, you know, be careful as always. Especially if you’re in Milwaukee, obviously. Regardless of the outcome, we hope the residents of the Sherman Park home damaged in the fire are OK.