Friends establish fund for crime victim

Friends of the 24-year-old woman who was stabbed and sexually assaulted Thursday in downtown Wilmington are trying to raise money to help pay her medical bills.

They have established a fund called Our Friend’s Fund.

The victim babysat Tony Byrd’s kids for more than 8 years.

Byrd says he and many of the victim’s friends began the fund so she would not have to worry about her medical bills on top of everything else.

The assault was so severe the victim required surgery.

“This young lady did not ask for this to happen to her and she obviously can not work to pay her bills, but they are going to be phenomenal and the way that we can support this young lady is through the giving of donations,” said Byrd.