Thousands Raised For Heartbroken Family Of Slain Plainview Father

PLAINVIEW, NY — Thousands of dollars have been raised for a Plainview father who was gunned down as he sat in an SUV.

As Patch previously reported, Justin Gottlieb, 27, was shot outside a home around 5:30 p.m. on Margaret Drive East in what police called a targeted attack. Gottlieb later died at a hospital.

Gottlieb attended Plainview- Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School and later graduated from SUNY Farmingdale in 2014, according to his Facebook profile.

Within hours of his slaying, tributes and donations poured in from members of the community. A GoFundMe account was also created to raise money for the family, describing Gottlieb as intelligent and pure-hearted. Patch has verified the authenticity of the account.

"We lost a son, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson, a friend, but most importantly a future husband and new dad to our sweet and beautiful Lauren and Coco," the GoFundMe post said. "Nothing in the world can take away our pain and suffering, but any bit of help no matter how small or big can lessen the burden on his beautiful little family that he was taken from way too soon."

As of Wednesday evening, more than $21,000 had been raised for the family. The goal: $2,500. All donations would go directly to Gottlieb's fiancée and daughter to ease the unexpected financial burden, the post said.

One member of the community remembered Gottlieb as a "wonderful young man with his whole life ahead of him."

"Our hearts hurt for the entire family but especially his young daughter who will never get to know her incredible Dad," one GoFundMe poster wrote.

One of Gottlieb's cousins wrote in a Facebook post he "did not deserve this."

"I will miss you more than anything and we are so grateful to forever have a little piece of you down here with us in your beautiful little girl," she wrote.

A second cousin wrote a light went out in their family, while a third said she was heartbroken.

"My family aches in so much pain and we will never be the same," she wrote. "I love you cuzzy you have filled my life with so much joy."

In an update Wednesday, Elena Saitta, creator of the account, thanked the community for their generosity.

"Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming amount of love and support you have been showing my family and I during this difficult time," she wrote.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.