Shaq To Pay For Funeral Of Teen Who Accidentally Shot Himself On Instagram

FOREST PARK, GA -- A celebrity has stepped forward to ease the burdens of an Atlanta-area family still reeling from tragedy after the accidental death of their son. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has offered to cover the funeral costs of Malachi Hemphill, the 13-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself while live-streaming on Instagram, Patch has learned.

Police said Malachi was playing with a gun when it accidentally went off, fatally striking the boy in his room Monday evening while scores of friends watched him on the social media site. The shooting has shaken parents in the Atlanta area, many of whom know little about their own children's social media use.

O'Neal, who films NBA broadcasts for TNT in downtown Atlanta, recently stopped by the family's home in Forest Park and offered to pay for the funeral and everything associated with it, a woman who calls Malachi her godson told local media. The family, who has experienced an outpouring of support from the community, broke down in tears at O'Neal's generous gesture.

Read more: Forest Park Teen Kills Himself As Viewers Watch On Instagram Live

"He just surprised us with that. He's going to pay for Malachi's entire funeral," Shantirea Bankston, Malachi's godmother, told WAGA-TV. "To have that from Shaquille O'Neal ... it was just touching and we appreciate everything he's done and is doing for the community."

O'Neal, who has an apartment in metro area, said he was moved to act because "no mother should have go to through this. I can only imagine the pain that she and all of Malachi’s family must be feeling. I just wanted to do what I could to help them at such a terrible time." (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Shaq is no stranger to helping people in need in metro Atlanta. When a group of children on their way to school were attacked by a dog, the former NBA star furnished a little girl's home upon her release from the hospital. He is also active in the local business community, purchasing the iconic Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on Ponce De Leon Avenue in Midtown.

People have been stopping by the family's home leaving flowers around a makeshift memorial, a sign of how deeply the incident has affected parents in the area.

Bankston said that the shooting, as tragic as it is, can be a teachable moment to parents.

“Check your kids' book bag," she told the TV station. "Check your kids room. Be involved with your kids, too, and see what they are doing and hopefully a good message will come out of this."

The family said that Malachi was not a troubled child or distraught in any way. Malachi was reportedly told by a viewer to put a clip in the gun. When he did, he mishandled it, pulling the trigger by mistake.

Funeral arrangements for Malachi are expected to be announced in the coming days, Patch has learned.

Image via Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport