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Daytona Tortugas raising money for officer Raynor during homestand

Team will host 50/50 raffle, silent auction

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas baseball team will raise money for officer Jason Raynor during a homestand this week.

Raynor remains in critical condition after he was shot during an encounter with 29-year-old Othal Wallace in Daytona Beach on June 23, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Money from a 50/50 raffle at Daytona’s game on Wednesday and Thursday went toward Raynor’s family.

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Thousands of dollars have already been raised, according to the Tortugas.

During the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Tortugas will be hosting a silent auction in the concourse behind the home plate.

Fans can purchase tickets to any of the games this week at this link.

Tickets usually start around $10. While getting seats for the game in an online order, fans will have the option to donate to Raynor’s family.

[RELATED: Orlando pizza place fundraising for Daytona Beach officer in hospital after shooting]

Chase Parker said he is a firefighter and wanted to support his fellow first responder.

“We try to hit all of the fundraisers, so that’s the goal. Just to be out here and support the officer. That’s all we can do,” Parker said. “It means a lot. I live here, I grew up here so it’s important to me. I wish him the best. Hopefully, he pulls through.”

Ali Rodriguez attended Thursday night’s game and bought raffle tickets to benefit Officer Raynor.

“We’ve always been a really tight-knit community. We always come together when we really needed to do so and it’s times like this that we can really show it,” Rodriguez said.

Ernie Marugg said he felt proud to donate to such a good cause.

“Having spent a career as a first responder and firefighting, our brothers in blue, we all have to take care of each other. My goal is if I were to win it, everything would go to him, anything we can do to help an injured brother,” Marugg said.

In Orlando, Planet Pizza is hosting a fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

All the sales during the fundraiser will go to Raynor’s family.

Besides the ballgames and pizza fundraiser, a GoFundMe for Raynor has also been created.

As of Thursday afternoon, more than $313,000 has been raised.

[RELATED: Man accused of shooting Daytona Beach officer to be extradited back to Florida]

Wallace is awaiting extradition from DeKalb County, Georgia.

He faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, according to court records.

The FBI said he could also face federal charges.


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