Shaquille O'Neal Pays Funeral Expenses Of Slain 5 Year Old Girl


(CNN) -- Professional basketball star Shaquille O'Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl whose body was found last week, O'Neal's team confirmed Thursday.

Authorities believe the child, Shaniya Davis, was kidnapped, raped and murdered after being reported missing November 10. Her body was found six days later on a roadside about 30 miles from her hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her funeral was Sunday.

O'Neal said in a statement released by his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, that he was touched after seeing Davis' story on CNN sister network HLN's "Nancy Grace" show.

"What happened to her was tragic. I wanted her to have a funeral that would be as beautiful as she was," O'Neal said in the statement.

Corey Breece, of Rogers and Breece Funeral Home, told the Fayetteville Observer he wouldn't discuss the cost of the child's service, but he noted a child's funeral "averages around $4,500."

The girl's father, Bradley Lockhart, and his family had set up a trust fund to help raise money to pay for the service, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

Family friend Vaughn Eason told the paper any remaining money would be used for groups and charities working to assist abused and neglected children.

Police have charged Mario Andrette McNeill with kidnapping and said he also will face murder and child rape charges.




Preliminary autopsy results indicated the child was asphyxiated, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine told reporters last week, as authorities awaited final autopsy reports.

Davis' mother, Antionette Nicole Davis, has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses. Police have said they believe she was prostituting the girl.

O'Neal, as a volunteer for law enforcement agencies in recent years, has been active in causes that deal with domestic violence issues, mainly child-abuse cases.


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Tags: child, expenses, family, funeral, murder, o'neal, shaquille

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Comment by Trent Lawrence Wanganeen on November 29, 2009 at 10:02pm
RIP Shaniya Davis, my heart seriously just sank readin this when the news first broke - may she be in a better place, surrounded by true loved ones and people who care...Shaq you are a stand up guy, god bless..!!!!!!!!
Comment by Gilbert CXruz on November 29, 2009 at 7:43pm
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Comment by JAVISAMM on November 29, 2009 at 2:02pm
MY HEART & PRAYERS GO OUT 2 HER FAMILY & FRIENDS!
Comment by JAVISAMM on November 29, 2009 at 2:01pm
THAts wats up he deid a beautiful thing sad a** situation!
Comment by Don Goodie on November 29, 2009 at 10:52am
A toast to you Big Shaq...
Comment by Juicybaby on November 29, 2009 at 1:32am
NICE SHAQ.. THAT WAS SWEET.... THEY DONT SAY TH GOOD SH*T ABOUT PEOPLE.
Comment by Showw-Teezy on November 28, 2009 at 8:02pm
Sick a** people. S*** is sad. RIP to the little girl and props to Shaq for standing up.
Comment by BIG RED on November 28, 2009 at 1:40am
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Comment by Ricky Ward on November 27, 2009 at 11:27pm
And i hope the mommy gets the worst out of it.. puttin a lil beautiful girl like her in that position.. f****** stupid!!!! u brought her into this world to be an angelical being for cryin out loud idiot!!
Comment by Ricky Ward on November 27, 2009 at 11:22pm
i love ya shaq!!! you're the best for this.. other celebrities take note! that's what u do w/ ur g'dam money.. talking about ownin cars and sayin "i ain't even drove that yet" just f****** stupid.. god bless ya shaq, i will now watch every cavalier game that comes up because u a true hero... man sad story.. my heart goes out from the bottom and i hope that dude gets the death sentence.. just f****** wrong!! i dunno.. why do ppl gotta be so stupid..

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