A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched for the family of Aaron Thompson, 28, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, who died Feb. 19 in the course of a mental health crisis in rural Wapello County.
The fundraiser, organized by Matthew Conway and Taylor Thompson, will help the family with the cost of transporting Thomspson home, with funeral expenses and in the hope of creating a foundation in Thompson’s memory to help people “struggling with mental health challenges.” The GoFundMe page reads:
Early on Friday, February 19th, we tragically lost our friend and brother, Aaron Thompson. Aaron — the future doctor, D1 athlete, best friend and loving brother and son — was shot and killed while suffering the effects of a mental health crisis, choosing life until the end and bravely doing so.
As we continue to mourn Aaron’s passing, we want to support his family to bring Aaron home, cover funeral costs, and pay for related expenses.
We also want to honor him by creating a foundation in his memory and name — to support other athletes and aspiring medical professionals struggling with mental health challenges, seeking to make the world a fairer, more equitable and healthier place for all. All additional funds remaining after supporting his family will contribute to this goal.
We thank everyone for the love and support that we have seen and felt throughout this time.
According to the Wapello County Sheriff’s office, “Evidence indicates Thompson was suffering a mental health crisis when he entered a Wapello County residence, engaged the homeowner in a physical altercation and was shot.”
No charges were filed in the homicide, which the sheriff’s office described as an “absolutely tragic event.”
