Words by Smiley Team
On May 14 a gunman walked into a Buffalo, New York grocery store and opened fire killing 10 people, in what is suspected to be a racially motivated crime.
Those who were affected have received an outpouring of support including from one Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal, known for his legendary NBA career has broken into a handful of side-gigs since the end of his playing career, including franchising a handful of restaurants, broadcast work in sports, but perhaps most surprisingly working as a DJ.
Going by the moniker DJ Diesel, an homage to one of his many nicknames during his playing career, Shaq has played at massive festivals around the country, including one right in Buffalo, New York, near where the shooting happened.
Shaq was paid $50,000 for the event, and he donated all of it to the family of someone who died in the shooting.
The money is going to the family of Aaron Salter Jr, who was a retired police officer doing security work at Tops Friendly Markets at the time of last month's shooting.
[Sign up here to receive a weekly dose of positive news in your inbox]
Salter reportedly engaged with and shot the gunman when he entered the store, but the bullets didn't pierce the gunman's body armor, allowing him to shoot and kill Salter.
According to TMZ Sports, O’Neill met with Salter’s widow to give donate the money.
O’Neal himself has a history in law enforcement, serving as a reserve officer for part of his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and served in similar roles in Florida, Arizona, and Virginia as well.
This is another step in a long line of Shaq’s charitable endeavors. Three years ago he donated a house in the Atlanta area to the family of a 12-year-old boy who was shot and left paralyzed.
DONATE: Sandy Hook Promise, inspired by the Sandy Hook shooting, is a non-profit that works to end gun violence affecting children.
SUPPORT: There are a lot of hard topics to talk about in the U.S. right now, including shootings like Buffalo. If someone needs an ear or a shoulder try and provide it if you can.
