Man shot in Vegas faces threats online
A B.C. man who survived after he was shot in the head in the Las Vegas massacre is being tormented online.
Like many of the hundreds of victims saddled with U.S. medical bills and unexpected travel costs after the shooting, Lake Country’s Braden Matejka started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $25,000.
He said on the page that the money would help cover his required time off work and other recovery costs after being shot in the back of the head.
But things quickly turned hateful, and he has become the target of online bullying, threats, and accusations of being part of a conspiracy.
Matejka has removed his Facebook site, but his brother Taylor Matejka shared screenshots of the abuse with The Guardian newspaper. One commenter called Matejka a liar, saying: “I hope someone truly shoots you in the head.”
Some posts allege that Matejka is an actor and that the mass shooting was a hoax. Twitter users also have claimed the shooting was faked.
Taylor Matejka told the U.K. newspaper on Thursday that families of the shooting victims are dealing with the most horrific thing they likely will ever experience, yet are being met with hate and anger online. Other Twitter users have come to the defence of Matejka, condemning the online abuse as insensitive.
On Oct. 1, lone gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killing 58 people and injuring 546 at an outdoor concert site before fatally shooting himself.