Fundraisers Started For Funerals Of Oak Forest Shooting Victims

OAK FOREST, IL — Two online fundraisers have been started to help with funeral expenses and support the families of the victims of a devastating fatal shooting Friday morning in Oak Forest.

One GoFundMe effort is to offset funeral and burial expenses for Lupe Gomez, 43, a mother of four who was fatally shot outside her home on Ann Marie Lane, and support her two daughters, ages 13 and 15, who survived the incident. A second GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for the funerals of Briana Rodriguez, 22, and Emilio Rodriguez, 20, who were also killed in the shooting.

"These two girls have been left with nothing," wrote Lupe Gomez's younger brother Nick Navarez, who started the GoFundMe for Gomez's services and support for her daughters. "They have lost their mom, their home, their siblings all at once. They will need a lot of emotional support and resources towards their future."

Navarez is currently caring for the two surviving girls, who are both Gomez's biological children. Both were at the home at the time of the incident, but survived.

Gomez, Briana and Emilio Rodriguez were all shot outside the home. The suspected gunman, 44-year-old Carlos Gomez, then barricaded himself inside the residence, which then went up in flames. Police later found the eldest Gomez deceased inside.

A candlelight vigil in memory of the victims is planned for Monday, Sept. 26 outside Oak Forest City Hall.