HARVEY, La. — The news out of Terrytown last week shocked Steve Bridges.
"Innocent kids lost their life in their sleep, you know? They didn't have a chance," Bridges said.
JPSO officials said Terrance Leonard, 33, viciously attacked his girlfriend, three of her children and one of her nieces with a hammer inside their Terrytown home on Wednesday, March 6.
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Kristina Riley and her 10-year-old son Ayden were killed, along with 9-year-old De'ryona Enclade. Riley's two other daughters are still fighting for their lives in the hospital.
That what Bridges said moved him to do something after he attended an emotional vigil outside of the home where the horrific beatings happened.
"We don't know the family, I've never met the family. I went to the vigil that night. It was actually hard seeing them break down like that, and I just left a card and I said, 'hey, we want to help," Bridges said.
That help has taken on the form of a fundraiser at Woodmere Cafe, operated by some of Bridges' friends. He said donations of food have been coming in since he began to spread word about the plan.
"People are responding in a good way," Bridges said.
When the last customer leaves at 8 p.m. Monday, the money will be counted and every penny will be turned over to the Riley family, Bridges said. It will be needed as funerals are planned and hospital stays continue.
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"The family is going to have enormous amounts of bills to deal with, so the only thing we're trying to do is support them in a financial way and love and show them that hey, there's people out here that really care," Bridges said.
The grandfather of the hospitalized children told Eyewitness News that one girl is doing a little bit better but still has a ways to go. The other, they are still concerned about, he said.