‘Samaritan’ Paralyzed in Shooting Found Dead
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COLORADO
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A “good Samaritan” paralyzed in a 1997 shooting while trying to prevent a racially motivated murder of a West African immigrant has died of an apparent drug overdose, authorities said.
Jeannie VanVelkinburgh, 41, was found dead at her home by her 15-year-old son, Aurora police Det. Rudy Herrera said.
The woman who came to the aid of Oumar Dia at a downtown Denver bus stop in November 1997 when he was being harassed by two avowed skinheads, Jeremiah Barnum and Nathan Thill, became a hero but also lived in constant pain.
Despite her suffering, she said she never regretted aiding Dia.
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