RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A woman whose car was stolen at gunpoint in Richmond last November was able to buy a new set of wheels after nearly 500 people donated a total of almost $20,000.
As Deon Smith was wrapping up her final DoorDash food delivery shift at the Rivertown Apartment Homes in the Forest Hill area of Richmond’s Southside, 18-year-old Jahlia Henley of Goochland and an unidentified juvenile from Richmond carjacked her at gunpoint.
The pair were later found in the car after crashing it in Henrico County. Both were charged with robbery.
Living without a car made it difficult for Smith to drive to her shifts as an at-home-care nurse in Chesterfield County and drive her daughter to after-school activities, such as swim practice.
“When you think about going outside to do something and you can’t do it because, ‘Uh, oh, I don’t have a vehicle right now,’” said Smith. “It’s stressful to get my daughter back and forth to school,” said Smith.
After two of Smith’s friends started a campaign for donations, it reached the goal in just a few day. Smith used the money to buy a new 2024 Honda HRV. To show their thanks, Smith and her daughter made a hand-made sign to thank the 478 doners.
“It was a blessing,” said Smith. “I was truly surprised at the amount of people that showed support.”
