A North Carolina man was shot and killed as he heroically shielded his eight-month-old baby in a late-night attack outside their home.
Devonelle Brimage clutched his newborn in his arms as the hailstorm of bullets rained down on them as he sat in the front seat of his car, which was parked in the driveway of his Plymouth, N.C. home.
His family mournfully heralded the slain dad in a GoFundMe started to cover funeral expenses.
“In his final moments, he showed incredible courage and love—using his own body to shield and protect his 8-month-old baby,” the family said.
“That act alone speaks volumes about the kind of man he was: selfless, protective, and full of love for his family,” they added.
The attack occurred at 1:34 a.m., the Plymouth Police Department said.
Devonelle Brimage was shot in his car while holding his newborn baby. eyJpdiI6Ii80UmRnRFBiRWFLYjNiZkZJSHZjWGc9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiZ0NSMzIwTGx3N0x3YmU5SFFWTG8yTnF2VSt6ZzZiUzBNbjhuNVZaMFVhQ1cxZlRYZFlLS2NDZGhFQWFOU3lUZGlEQ3JlZ2l1U1JpdC9CajZxenBEQ3c9PSIsIm1hYyI6IjkzOTE1YzhmNzJl The baby was rushed to Washington Regional Medical Center and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released, officials said.
Another man, 38, was found by police with gunshot wounds in the backseat of the car, and was hospitalized.
This incident remains under active investigation. The Plymouth Police department is being assisted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The slain father is survived by his 11 children and 11 siblings, he was remembered by family as a “devoted father, brother [and] son.”
The father of 11 was using his body as a shield during the attack. eyJpdiI6Imo0eHM5Y0k0STFwZFRQQ0kwRmdLZlE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiY09qSTBrYnBtWm1wOTZDMDRaYTJOYnV2dmw1bHhjckFkbmlmZUtkWnFyWXoyZ0RmTllpcXFnUlJNeEMwN0NYNVFqcGdiTzZzdFpubE5nMmVEcDVSRGc9PSIsIm1hYyI6Ijk1NmFkNDQ5NzVh “He was a devoted father, brother, son, and loved one who meant so much to everyone who knew him,” the family said.
The GoFundMe has raised a little over half of its $5,000 goal.
“Please keep Devonelle’s family, especially his children, in your thoughts and prayers. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean just as much,” the family pleaded.
