A New York father of three has just been fired from both of his jobs after sustaining several gunshot wounds while shielding his kids from danger.
Anthony Jefferson was with his 3 children at a Bronx car dealership on Monday when three gunmen fired numerous shots into the building. He was there to buy a car for his wife as a surprise birthday gift, but that plan went painfully awry. When the first bullet blasted through the dealership window, the brave father instinctually jumped over to protect his children from harm.
Acting as a human body shield for his 6, 5, and 2-year-old, Anthony was shot twice in his foot and once in his right upper-leg.
Security cameras in the dealership caught the traumatic scene in action:
Now, the courageous dad is being hit with yet another blow, after being hailed a hero for his life-saving act.
According to his wife Danica, Anthony was fired from both of his two jobs due to his inability to walk. He was previously employed as a construction worker, and also worked as a head painter at a maintenance company in New York City. Both physically demanding jobs clearly required Anthony’s ability to used his legs efficiently, though his brutal injuries hindered his ability to do so.
Danica didn’t reveal the company names, according to PEOPLE.
Her husband has been discharged from the hospital, though he will still need surgery to extract the bullet lodged in his right thigh.
In addition to Anthony’s physical wounds, his three young children have sustained deep emotional wounds, as “they are beyond traumatized,” according to a GoFundMe page set up to pay for medical bills and therapy for the children.
“Hello, I am Serena Wingate, a close friend of Anthony Jefferson,” the GoFundMe page reads. “On 9/21/20 at approx 7:20 PM, he was inside of 4077 Boston Rd in the Bronx with his three kids shopping for a vehicle to surprise his wife as her birthday gift, when 3 suspects fired multiple shots at a male who then returned fire, striking Anthony Jefferson 3 times, twice in his boot and once in his thigh as he was attempting to shield his 3 kids from the gunfire. As he shielded his kids, the 3 suspect’s continued to shoot. Due to his injury, Anthony lost his job and has to have surgery to remove the bullet. This Go Fund me is to help this heroic dad with his medical bills and his kids with therapy. They are beyond traumatized.”
Danica says her kids are afraid to go outside, and cry in their sleep, asking “Why did the man shoot my daddy?”
It’s a question for which the heartbroken mother does not have an answer.
So far, the GoFundMe set up for the family has raised $84,676 of its $24,100 goal with the generous donations of over 2,500 people. If you’d like to join them in financially supporting the Jeffersons at this time, you may donate here.
