A Miami Gardens funeral home has offered funeral services free of charge for the family of a man fatally shot trying to stop a robbery near his business.
Leon Bland, the director of Royal Funeral Service at 17475 NW 27th Ave., said the facility will be covering the cost of several services for Errold Peart if his family decides to formally accept the offer.
Peart was 59 when he was killed over the weekend near his car wash business. Family and friends said he was trying to stop a robbery when the incident occurred.
"Somebody tried to hold up one of his customers, he of course went over to him and and they shot him, twice," said Tanya Solis, Peart's friend. "He lost his life trying to save another's."
The funeral home told NBC 6 South Florida it would cover the cost of embalming, casket purchase, floral arrangements and a hearse. Peart’s family can also use the 130-seat chapel at no charge.
Bland said the facility volunteered to cover the cost, estimated to be almost $4,000, because it was the "right thing to do for people in need."
"It's a tragic situation," he said. "The gentleman is a fine fellow in the community. He did things in the community and now we want to do things for him."
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A candlelight vigil was held for Peart Tuesday at his car wash, which is located on U.S. Route 441 and 191st Street. Family and friends say Peart dedicated his life to the car wash business, spending seven days a week there.
"Everybody knew his name, this place was always packed with cars," customer Lina Wallace said.
Peart’s slaying along with the killing of Andrew Johnson, a 10-year veteran of Miami-Dade’s Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, prompted local residents and community leaders to push for peace Wednesday.
“We’ve got to recreate that spirit that I am my brother's keeper,” Larrie Lovett, a lifelong Miami Gardens resident, said at a church Wednesday.
Major Alfred Lewers, with the Miami Gardens Police Department, said: “When we have one of these shootings, it hurts us, it hurts us as a police department almost as much as the families who have to deal with the loss of a loved one.”
No arrests have been made in either case, and it is unknown when Peart’s funeral will be held.
