A trust fund has been established for a man who was shot in the face at a Red Deer gas station on Sept. 11.
Parkland Fuel Corporation, which owns Fas Gas Plus, say a a trust account has been established for Jaysen Arancon Reyes, a Fas Gas station clerk, and efforts are being made to reunite him with family as he recovers at a Calgary hospital.
The company is covering all costs to bring family close to Reyes, including his uncle from Ontario, who is by his nephew's side. Attempts are also being made to expedite a visa process to bring Reyes' mother over from the Philippines, with the help of Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen.
His mother Sercia told The Calgary Sun she was worried about her son and wanted to take care of him. She was also baffled he was a victim of near-fatal violence in a country where she would least expect it.
“My son is a simple man, with a lot of dreams,” she said from Manila, speaking in Tagalog. She added that he was a good man who "wouldn't hurt a mosquito.”
"We would like to thank our community for supporting Jaysen and his family," said the company in a statement.
Police say the 26-year-old was hit in the face and hand by a shotgun blast during a robbery at the Fas Gas outlet in the West Park area of Red Deer.
Police allege a man walked into the gas station with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded cash.
After he got the money, the suspect allegedly shot Reyes and then fled on a bicycle.
Reyes, who now suffers severe pain in his hands and has blurred vision in his right eye, told CTV News he was worried about how he would be able to support his mother and four brothers, who he sends money to.
“I think ‘How can I help them when I can’t work?’ but my boss told me ‘Don’t worry, we can help you,'" he said.
Jeffrey Lyle Geary, 30, has been charged with attempted murder and multiple weapons related offences after he turned himself in to RCMP.
Donations can be made at any Scotiabank branch across Canada and will be accepted until Dec. 31.
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