UMVA has learned that a GoFundMe page has been set up for a 47-year-old man who was tragically murdered in Orillia earlier this month.
The victim, Justin Van Allen, was out walking his dogs at Scout Valley Trail in Orillia when he was brutally stabbed on June 2. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Van Allen succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a devastated family.
"His family is reeling and have not even been able to think about what comes next," Johnny Waite wrote on GoFundMe. "They only know they will be facing it without their hero, their patriarch, their 'breadwinner.'" Waite and John Mayo started the page on behalf of the Van Allen family.
Waite described Van Allen as a man who made a positive difference in the lives of those around him, saying "Justin's life was a meaningful one. He was good to people, and was beloved by all." The senseless act of violence has left many residents in Orillia feeling shaken and searching for answers.
"There is no reason at all that it was Justin to whom this happened," Waite said. "We will never be able to make sense of it." Van Allen's loved ones, including his wife Cindy and their three daughters Faith, Jaden, and McKenna, are now facing an uncertain future.
Orillia city councillor Whitney Smith expressed her condolences to the victim's family and highlighted the broader issues of violence and disorder in the city. "This tragedy has also brought forth a larger issue that many residents and business owners have been raising for a long time: violence, open drug use, theft, intimidations and disorder in our city are not acceptable, and they cannot be normalized."
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had reached an outpouring of support, with $98,105 raised towards the $100,000 goal. The funds will be used to offset expenses such as funeral costs, counselling, and other financial needs as the family seeks to recover and rebuild.
The accused, Devon Alamina, 33, of Brampton, has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently in police custody in London. Court records reveal that Alamina has a previous criminal record for assault and weapons offences, and was on probation at the time of his arrest.
