Shaquille O'Neal Pays For Shaniya Davis Funeral

by Jon Azpiri | November 26, 2009 at 03:43 pm
1111 views | 0 Recommendations | 3 comments

NBA player Shaquille O'Neal has paid for the funeral of Shaniya Davis, the five-year-old North Carolina girl who was recently kidnapped, raped and murdered.  Shaq said in a statement that he was so touched by the sad story that he decided to pay for the Shaniya Davis funeral.

"What happened to her was tragic. I wanted her to have a funeral that would be as beautiful as she was," O'Neal said in the statement.

While Shaq did not disclose how much he paid for the Shaniya Davis funeral, the funeral director who handled the service said that the average funeral costs around $4,500. Shaniya Davis' father Bradley Lockhart said that money had been put into a trust fund to pay for the girl's funeral and that the remaining money will be donated to charity.

Police arrested Mario Andrette McNeill in the death of Shaniya Davis. An autopsy found that Shaniya Davis had been asphyxiated.

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Cassidy M

Shaq, that was a great thing to do for that little girl. I wish there werent so many sick people in the world

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balicia

Shaq that was such a beautiful thing you did for baby Shaniya. I am so glad that a person with such a big heart can show us what a great example he is to our society. I hope Shaniya's so called mother realizes that she had a very special beautiful little angel named Shaniya. She should've tooken pride in Shaniya instead of using her for evil. She has captivated so many people's hearts, so I know Shaniya is and will always be a very special beautiful angel that now looks over this world. I hope her so called mother and that sick monster get served with justice, and anyone that had knowledge of what was going on with baby Shaniya. I guess her mother could not get any money herself cuz she is such an ugly woman inside and out so she had to use her daughter whom was the opposite. We don't want them in protective custody, tax money should be used to protect our children instead of protecting those monsters. The system needs to change its priorities. My condolences and prayers out to Mr. Lockhart and his family. Shaq thank you for stepping up and showing us why you are such a great role model to our community and to our children. There should be a law or a bill named after babygirl Shaniya where this doesn't happen to another child. Beautiful babygirl we'll always luv you. R.I.P. Shaniya.

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Beverly Mahone

As a North Carolina resident who had been following this case since it broke, it warms my heart to see the putpouring of love and support for a little girl who probably would've gone unnoticed in life.  Shaq stepped upand showed that he has a heart and obviously knows what it means to be a "dad."  Not althletes are selfish and ignorant.  Thanks Shaq. 

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