Fundraiser for family of slain Deputy U.S. Marshal surpasses its goal
A military battlecross sits in the front of the stage at the Giant Center, in honor of Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher Hill’s military service. (Photo courtesy of Shane T. McCoy / US Marshals)
(Undated) — A fundraising effort has garnered enough support to help pay off the mortgage on the home of a Deputy U.S. Marshal who was killed while serving a warrant in Harrisburg earlier this month .
The New York-based Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation kicked off the fundraising effort January 19th with a $100,000 donation to help pay off Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher Hill’s family’s mortgage.
Spokeswoman Catherine Christman says the Foundation asked the public to contribute the rest and people from every state and Canada responded with $235,000 in donations.
“The total of $335,00 pays off the mortgage and allows us to make a significant contribution to the Hill family for their future life,” she says. “In a short period of time, folks all across America responded.”
Christman says the response was overwhelming.
“It speaks to the devotion that people felt and the heartwarming story and what a wonderful person the Deputy U.S. Marshal, Christopher Hill, was,” She says. “I think that clearly came across and his lovely family, in knowing he has two children who survive him… I think that resonated with people.”
Hill leaves behind a wife and two children.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher D. Hill, 45, of Conewago Township, was killed in the line of duty while serving a warrant Jan. 18 in Harrisburg. (Photo: Submitted)
The 11-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Serice worked at the U.S. Capitol before transferring to Harrisburg in 2009.
He was considered among the “best of the best” — as a member of the elite U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and a former U.S. Army Ranger. During the manhunt for Eric Frein — who was wanted for ambushing a state police barracks in Pike County, killing one trooper and wounding another — Hill was chosen to lead a large group that conducted woodland searches for the suspect that eventually led to his capture.
The veteran law enforcement officer was killed January 18th, while serving a warrant in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill neighborhood.
Of the nine-member team taking part in the operation York Officer Kyle Pitts was wounded and Harrisburg Officer Jeff Cook was hit in his ballistic vest, but not injured.
The Marshal Service fugitive task force was taking the target of the warrant, Shayla Pierce, into custody, when 31-year-old Kevin Sturgis opened fire. He ws then shot and killed by other members of the team.
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