Community steps in to support family of fallen CMPD officer

CHARLOTTE — As news spread of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Mia Goodwin’s death in the line of duty, several groups of people have stepped in to help.

Officer Goodwin was killed when two semi-trucks collided and crashed into her while she was investigating a separate traffic accident on Interstate 85 Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, CMPD said they had charged one of the truck drivers, 50-year-old Daniel Leon Morgan, for his involvement in the deadly crash. Morgan was charged with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed, and felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles.

Since the deadly crash, several organizations and at least one business have started raising money for the Goodwin family.

That business, Waterbean Coffee, said Officer Goodwin’s death was personal for them.

“As parents ourselves to two beautiful little girls, this broke our hearts tremendously,” owners Annie and Tony Vo posted on Facebook.

The coffee shop donated all its Christmas Eve sales from every shop location in Charlotte, as well as those from their locations in Huntersville, Cornelius and Hickory.

“We usually post something to thank our customers during Christmas time,” the Vos said. “This Christmas Eve, thank you everyone for being our amazing customers throughout the years. This year, we can all come together and end 2021 helping a wonderful family.”

On Friday, a large crowd had gathered inside one Waterbean Coffee shop. One customer said he joined the crowd because he was touched by Goodwin’s story and wanted to show his support.

“She had just come back from maternity leave, and it just broke my heart,” Scott Moore said. “To walk in here, and this place is completely packed and the line pretty much out the door. It just does, it warms your heart.”

Several firefighters who work with Goodwin’s husband were also in the shop.

“Her husband works on my shift, and it’s such a tight-knit community. We know, and work with, and have worked with the same people over our careers,” firefighter Will Sanburg said.

Sanburg said it was comforting to see so many people showing support for public servants.

“It’s nice to see. It restores our sense of humanity,” Sanburg said.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police began collecting donations on behalf of the family. On Friday, the president of the organization told Channel 9′s Tina Terry that they had raised more than $90,000 so far.

“Obviously, with the impact that this has, with her leaving a loving husband and three kids behind. This family is going to need more than just support from us,” FOP Vice President Daniel Redford said. “These kids are going to have to continue to go to school, be taken care of.”

Back the Blue created a GoFundMe for Goodwin. By the morning of Christmas Eve, the organization had already raised more than $135,000.

Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari also created a GoFundMe for Goodwin’s family and was urging the community to donate. By the morning of Christmas Eve, the councilman had already raised more than $107,000.

The Charlotte Fire Department told Channel 9 that Goodwin’s husband, firefighter Brenton Goodwin, was a firefighter at Fire Station 5. CFD said they are supporting all CMPD memorials and they are assisting the family with immediate needs and peer support. Firefighters have been offering donations to help family through the Charlotte Fire Department Credit Union.

(WATCH: Tributes pour in across social media for fallen CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin)

Tributes pour in across social media for fallen CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin

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