Tyshawn Lee memorial burned, while mother defends new car purchase

A memorial for nine-year-old Tyshawn Lee in the alley where he was killed was destroyed Sunday in an early morning fire, the Chicago Fire Department says.

The fire department determined that the fire was accidental. The memorial for Tyshawn Lee included some candles, stuffed animals, balloons and other items that were destroyed by the fire that the CFD says started around 3 a.m. in an alley near 80th and Damen.

This coincides with the backlash Tyshawn's mother is receiving for her decision to purchase a car with the money raised by a GoFundMe page set up to pay for Lee’s funeral. More than $17,000 was raised.

Karla Lee posted several profanity-laced videos on Instagram, insisting that she used her own money. She also said that people who do not support her, should just leave her alone. Those videos have since been removed.

Father Michael Pfleger set up a separate GoFundMe page to help contribute to the reward money, for information leading to an arrest in the case. The reward has now surpassed $55,000.

Tyshawn Lee’s funeral is on Tuesday at St. Sabina Church.