Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

The Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) latest shooting victim, 29-year-old Christian Hadley Nelson, will be returning home to Georgia after his ex, Anna Dobbs, secured his arrangements through GoFundMe donations. SPD gunned down Nelson in broad daylight near the Othello Light Rail Station on December 2 for brandishing a firearm, then pointing it at responding officers who escalated the situation and used lethal rounds.

“All arrangements for Chris to come home have been paid for with my GoFundMe link,” Dobbs told TtS.

All donations are going towards memorial and funeral arrangements, travel expenses, and support for Nelson and Dobbs’ 9-year-old son. TtS previously published a separate GoFundMe link that was created on behalf of Amanda, Nelson’s mother.

“They have not been in communication with me at all,” Dobbs said, noting how she’s been keeping Nelson’s family updated during this process.

As far as Dobbs is aware, no proceeds from Amanda’s GoFundMe will go towards her and Nelson’s child. Amanda’s GoFundMe stated it would help settle Nelson’s arrangements, and will ensure that Amanda can stay with family out of state, rather than grieving in Georgia alone after now losing two sons to guns. Nelson’s cousin told TtS that Dobbs’ fundraiser is against Amanda’s wishes, and Dobbs said the family hasn’t reached out to her to check-in on her son.

Both parties are devastated and believe SPD could have better handled the situation, like by using rubber bullets, and are awaiting full transparency from law enforcement. The King County Investigation Team has been looking into the shooting.