PANAMA CITY -- A donation chest to benefit the family of a man killed by a stray bullet approached $20,000 by Friday afternoon.
The donation page labeled “Go Without To Help Out: The Ayers Family” on gofund me.com was created after the sudden death of 33-year-old Justin Ayers only a day ago but had nearly surpassed $20,000 in donations late Friday.
Ayers was struck by a stray bullet that entered his home Tuesday night as he and family members held a homecoming for his 3-day-old baby. The celebration came to a horrifying halt when the bullet entered through a sliding glass door and hit Ayers in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
“Tragedy struck our community Tuesday when a stray bullet hit and killed Justin Ayers in his home as he celebrated the birth of his newborn baby with family,” the donation page creators wrote. “We’re asking you to go without this month: without your daily coffee stop, without your weekend movie trip, without something you don’t really need and to donate that money to the Ayers family instead.”
Of the nearly 400 people who donated, some left condolences or listed what they would go without. The page received more than 4,300 shares among various social media platforms.
Ayers’ funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Northside Baptist Church with Rev.’s Luther Stanford, Jeff Stockdale and Jerry Moore officiating. A private family interment will follow. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 a.m., one hour prior to service time.
A fundraiser geared toward Ayers’ love of music will take place at G. Foley’s, 3212 W. 23rd St., July 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Musicians willing to donate their talent for the evening are encouraged to contact Natalie Reynolds by email at nataliereynoldsmusic@gmail.com. She also can arrange accepting gifts of baby items and gift card donations for Jessica Ayers and baby Jax Ayers.