A fund opened for the homeless woman who informed police of a gunman near the University of New Haven has already earned $23,000.
President of the university Steve Kaplan told NBC's local station in Connecticut that hundreds of people opened their wallets to help the woman, who first contacted law enforcement officials on Dec. 3 to report seeing a man walking with a gun in the direction of the school's campus.
"This remarkable response demonstrates the UNH community's gratitude for our good Samaritan's heroic efforts, which potentially saved lives and certainly led to a swift apprehension of the armed suspect," Kaplan wrote in a statement sent out to staff, teachers and students at the school.
Police managed to arrest 22-year-old Fairfield resident William Dong about 20 minutes after the woman, whose identity has been withheld, alerted police that he was carrying what appeared to be a firearm. After searching the young man, police said they discovered two loaded pistols on him, in addition to a rife in his car, parked nearby in a lot on Campbell Avenue.
The school then opened the "UNH-Good Samaritan" fund to commemorate the woman's heroic warning, despite the fact that she insisted she didn't want to be recognized publicly. Kaplan told NBC that all of the money will go directly to the woman.
She reportedly told Kaplan that she was pleasantly shocked by the overwhelming response.
"We continue to work with our good Samaritan to ensure that the funds donated are used to provide for her basic needs and help her gain independence," Kaplan continued. "She is extremely grateful for the outpouring of generosity and says that she never expected this level of assistance."
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