WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) -
A West Bloomfield officer was killed in the line of duty last week. Two sisters with a connection to the tragedy have found a way to help.
"There (were) four cops surrounding my mom and the kids, and they all had riffle guns," said Candice Pattah. "Honestly, I don't think that they knew what this guy was capable of doing because he already killed a cop."
Pattah lives just a few houses down from where West Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick O'Rourke was shot and killed.
"They weren't telling me what was going on. They just told me that this is a very serious situation, so just try to understand that," Pattah explained.
Like so many, Pattah wanted to do something to help the O'Rourke family through their darkest hour.
"The officer was literally there to try to protect us and our families, and for that he did lose his life and we feel so sorry for him," Pattah said. "We figured since he's not here now, something that we could do for his family... is we can donate all our sales."
So Monday, every penny from everything sold at Royal Duchess in West Bloomfield will be donated to the O'Rourke family. Candice Pattah co-owns the store with her sister, Leslie. They say this tragedy hit so close to home they had to do something, and they've found their customers were anxious to help.
"I did hear about the shooting, and I live in West Bloomfield. I've been living here my whole life, and I wanted to come out and support a great cause," said shopper Kelsey Senawi.
"We have a really nice clientele, and they're all really excited to just come shopping because they know that the money is actually going to something other than a business. It's actually going to a family who needs it more than probably anyone right now," said Pattah.
"I know for a fact that it's hard to be a single mother raising four kids, and to lose someone who was so close to you, it's definitely very difficult," Senawi said.
Royal Duchess is also taking donations for the O'Rourke family all week.
Candice Pattah (Credit: myFOXDetroit.com)
