Work to distribute victims fund starts
Millions of dollars in contributions for the Las Vegas shooting massacre’s victims and their families are still pouring in, but authorities already are making plans to distribute the money.
A GoFundMe campaign kicked off by Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak has raised almost $10.5 million. It’s one of several campaigns created in the days after Stephen Paddock’s bloody assault, which killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more.
Sisolak and other officials say they hope to merge the funds and start paying out the money as soon as possible.
Camille Biros is a lawyer with the firm of Ken Feinberg, which has helped dole out compensation funds for major disasters from the 9/11 terror attacks to last year’s assault at an Orlando nightclub. Biros has been charged with helping leaders in Las Vegas set up a distribution system for donations from the GoFundMe campaign, casinos and other efforts.
It is difficult now to determine when money could start flowing, Biros told USA TODAY. She said it might take a month to set up protocols. In Orlando, payments went out about 90 days after protocols were set, she said.
Biros said she held a conference call with leaders of the funding campaigns, and she came away impressed.
“I was encouraged — everyone’s heart is absolutely in the right place,” she said. “Everybody is doing their best to make sure this is done properly.”