SUMTER, S.C. — The family of two teenage siblings that died after a shooting at a local motel are fundraising to bury their loved ones and honor their memory.
According to the Sumter Police Department, 16-year-old Ny’heem Burgess and 18 year old Khanesia Commander died after an accidental shooting at the Palmetto Inn.
Monday, the family held a carwash to help fundraise for the funeral arrangements for both of the half-siblings. The pair were extremely close, according to Khanesia's father, Kelvin Commander.
"Every time I went to pick my daughter up—I already knew to let my back seat up because Ny'heem was coming and I didn’t have a problem with it," said Commander.
He was one of many family members who showed up to wash cars Monday for the fundraiser. He says he wants to honor his daughter's memory.
"She was Khanesia, she was smart. She was beautiful. She was caring. She had a huge heart. She would give the shirt off her back to anybody," said Commander. "My daughter wanted to be everything. She wanted to be a cook. She wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. She wanted to go into service. She wanted to be anything positive."
An additional car wash will be held Tuesday at the Advance Auto Parts on Broad Street. The family plans to hold a viewing and a balloon release Friday to remember the siblings. The family also has a GoFundMe set up for the funeral arrangements.
One of the cousins of the siblings, Stacey Felder, says the death of both of their loved ones has put an emotional and a financial strain on the family.
"This is a lot, it’s not just one it’s two," said Felder. "We’re gonna get through it. We’re gonna be here for each other and we’re going to make a way."
Details on the incident at the Palmetto Inn right now are limited. News 19 reached out to the Sumter Police Department for an incident report, but the agency declined to release one Monday.