Kanye West donates $150,000 to family of black security guard shot dead by police in Chicago

Rapper gives money to cover burial costs for security guard who stopped shooting at bar

Kanye West has donated $150,000 (£117,000) to the family of a security guard shot and killed by police in the US.

The American rapper paid the money through a fundraising website, set up to cover the burial costs for Jemel Roberson, 26, who died on 11 November.

Mr Roberson, a black man, was working as a security guard at a bar near Chicago when a gunman opened fire inside.

He apprehended the shooter and pinned him down but was shot and killed by a white police officer arriving at the scene.

Setting up the GoFundMe page on the day he died, fundraisers wrote: "Sadly, Jemel's life was tragically and unexpectedly cut short this morning as he tried to save others from senseless violence. Today, many remember him as a hero; one who put others before himself."

Mr West made 10 donations of $15,000, meeting the target set to pay for Roberson's burial costs.

A spokesperson for the website confirmed the company had verified the donations but added it was not the biggest donation from an individual to a single campaign.

More than $300,000 (£235,000) has so far been raised by over 5,000 people in the seven days since the fundraising page was established.

Mr West has not commented publicly on the donations but he tweeted: "We believe in love. We don't just try we do.. we are... We are love."

Roberson leaves behind a nine-month-old son with his long-term partner, who is pregnant with their second child.

The Roberson family attorney told CNN he was working extra shifts to buy gifts for his son.

Press Association