The family of the Nigerian DoorDash delivery driver, Noel Njoku, who was shot and killed on the job in Mitchellville, Maryland, U.S. early Thursday has raised a fundraiser to cater for burial expenses and care for the four children
The fundraiser with the gofundme.com under Funerals & Memorials and signed by ‘The Njoku Family’ was created on Friday. It has already garnered $13,133 of $30,000 goal and reads: “Our peace-loving husband, father of four, brother and uncle Noel Njoku. Noel Njoku moved from Nigeria decades ago. He was the sweetest, most selfless man you could think of. With his smile so bright, how could he not make you happy or simply make your day?
“Sadly, his life was taken by a senseless act of gun violence on early Thursday morning. Noel Njoku was found shot multiple times in his car while delivering food to a customer via DoorDash in which he had worked at night after selling cars during the day to provide for his family.
“After calling and receiving no answers from her husband, Noela Njoku (his wife) then went from hospital to hospital searching for her husband when she finally received a call from an officer at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center explaining to her that Noel Njoku had passed away. Noel Njoku left behind a wife, a 15-year-old daughter, 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old twin boys.
“Your donation can help Noela Njoku cover expenses for her husband and also provide for her four children. Please feel free to donate whatever your heart desires. It is gratefully and thankfully appreciated. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18.”
On the announcement of the death of Noel Njoku who lived in Springdale by the Prince George’s County police, his wife and brother wept bitterly, pleading for answers in the hours after his death.
“Please, anybody who has any information, please, please, please — anybody who has any information should come and help us out, please,” Chidi Njoku, the victim’s brother, said through tears.
Njoku was a happy, “peace-loving person” who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria decades ago, his brother said. He had only recently started working for DoorDash.
“I want to know who killed my husband,” the victim’s wife said.
After her husband failed to answer her calls, she went from hospital to hospital looking for him. Finally, an officer at University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center broke the news.
The 48-year-old Njoku was found shot multiple times inside his vehicle. Police are looking for a suspect and motive.
Njoku was found suffering from gunshot wounds at about 12:20 a.m. in a car in the 3700 block of Lottsford Vista Road, police said.
“The preliminary investigation revealed Njoku was delivering food to a home in the area when he was shot,” police said in a statement.
Njoku was taken to a hospital, where he died.
It wasn’t immediately clear who killed Njoku or why.
“Detectives are currently right now at the scene, collecting evidence, speaking to witnesses, trying to piece everything together,” Pfc. Antonia Washington said.
Njoku’s brother begged someone to contact police.
“Please let the person come forward and know the kind of hurt he has put on this family,” he said.
DoorDash released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our hearts go out to the Dasher’s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. The safety of our community is paramount and we immediately reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance in any way we can. We are actively working to get in touch with this Dasher’s family to extend our full support.”
Other delivery drivers have been attacked in the D.C. area in recent years.
In 2019, DoorDash driver Yusuf Ozgur was shot and killed at a Denny’s restaurant in Manassas, Virginia, after he unknowingly held the door for robbery suspects as they fled, police said.
This spring, two teen girls carjacked Uber Eats driver Mohammad Anwar near Nationals Park. He died after his car flipped.
