NFL Superstar offers to pay for the funeral costs of young high school phenom that was murdered

Damond TalbotMay 8, 2019

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Jaylon McKenzie was killed by a stray bullet and it was a huge shock. McKenzie was one of the best high school athletes in the country and had already received several scholarship offers.

The NFL is a family, I have been trying to say that for years, but today a small gesture from an NFL superstar shows that football is more than just a game.

Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott will pay for the funeral expenses of Jaylon McKenzie, who died after being struck by a stray bullet while leaving a party in Venice, Illinois last weekend.

Justina Coronel reported it first on Twitter.

JAYLON MCKENZIE: I spoke to Jaylon’s mom, @sukeena5, who says that someone on behalf of @EzekielElliott reached out to pay for her son’s funeral costs. That’s so incredible, since Jaylon used to watch Ezekiel to improve his own skills. @ksdknews pic.twitter.com/W0j6Yxatqa

— Justina Coronel (@JustinaCoronel) May 8, 2019

“For him to reach out to me was unbelievable,” McKenzie’s mother, Sukeena Gunner, told the Star-Telegram. “Jaylen loved Ezekiel Elliott. He talked about him all the time. When Ezekiel was playing, he would sit in front of the TV. His eyes were glued to the TV, watching him. Just for him to reach out to me and help me in this difficult time leaves me speechless.”

This was such a tragic event, and I please ask that you lift up his family and give a huge thanks to Cowboys RB Zeke Elliott.