Towbin Automotive and Ally Bank Step In to Save Family Car After Fatal Shooting
Towbin Automotive and Ally Bank came together on Wednesday to pay the remaining balance of the late Cassandra Cassidy’s beloved FIAT for her mother and sister (Pictured: Josh Towbin with the family of Cassandra Cassidy – Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo).
Cassidy was killed at the age of 24 in April in a drive-by shooting outside of a halfway house where she worked. She was reportedly attempting to assist two women who felt threatened by men near the car, when the men opened fire from a moving vehicle. Cassidy was hit by the gunfire and died from her wounds.
Her family started a GoFundMe account in an effort to raise money to pay off her FIAT, which was Cassandra’s first new car purchase and was her favorite color, teal. She had purchased the car at Towbin FIAT/Alfa Romeo on Sahara Ave. in Las Vegas.
Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo.
“Cassandra has a car that she worked so very hard to save her down payment for, qualify for loan on own , then worked full time while going to school full time,” said her mother, Carol Kirkum, via the GoFundMe page. “We want to pay off that loan and keep her car and treasure it as a valued memory of our Sunshine.”
Towbin Automotive co-owner, Josh “Chop” Towbin, read about the effort on Wednesday morning and immediately reached out to the family to donate the remaining money needed to save the car.
“We are trying to bring some good into an otherwise tragic situation,” said Towbin. “This family has already lost more than anyone should; and this FIAT serves as a special bond and memory of Cassandra. It should remain with them and be a reminder of their beautiful daughter. We believe in supporting our FIAT family through thick and thin and this is the least we can do to help our family.”
Towbin presented the car to Kirkum and her other daughter, Chelsea, at an emotional display at Towbin FIAT/Alfa Romeo, where Cassandra had signed the wall, naming her car, “Ophelia,” as a tradition with her new purchase.
Towbin Automotive
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