GoFundMe Holding Money Raised For Homeless Man Featured In Viral TikTok

A new GoFundMe update is the plot twist no one had on their 2024 bingo card!

An inspiring story of how a college student helped a homeless man who crossed her path while walking to the grocery store has taken a bit of a turn.

After many uplifting videos were shared on TikTok that show all that Sanai Graden was doing for the homeless man, Alonzo Douglas Hebron, news of a violent past are coming to the surface and changing the narrative of the heartwarming story.

After Graden's videos went viral, people ran to GoFundMe to help out the cause. The fundraiser has raised more than $400,000 in just a few days, and now GoFundMe is holding the money after the homeless man's past resurfaced.

Let's quickly recap - Graden was walking to the grocery store when a homeless man, Hebron, asked her for a cup of tea. The two ended up spending a few hours together as Graden picked up his medication at the pharmacy, got him some tea, and booked him a hotel room.

During their hours together, Hebron revealed that he's battling prostate cancer and alone. Graden decided she wanted to do more to help him so she started a GoFundMe page to raise money for him. In just a few short days, thousands of people donated to the cause.

Fast forward to now. A woman who was assaulted in 2020 came forward to announce that it was Hebron, who had just gone viral on TikTok because of Graden's help.

"I'm speechless," she told FOX5 about the viral video he's in. "I do not understand how a human being can act like this. He's a sociopath. He does not have a sense of remorse."

And it's not just her word. Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police said in a news release back in June 2020 that Hebron assaulted a woman and was arrested days later.

"At approximately 1:16 am, the suspect approached the victim at the listed location. The suspect assaulted the victim and stole the victim’s property. The suspect fled the scene. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries," the release reads, adding:

"On Friday, June 26, 2020, 61 year-old Alonzo Douglas Hebron, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Robbery (Force & Violence) and Aggravated Assault."

After this news surfaced, GoFundMe decided to put a hold on releasing the $402,963 raised for Hebron.

While Graden hasn't broken her silence on the situation just yet, many other TikTokers are talking about it and sharing their opinions.

One TikToker, who goes by Santana Cruise & Travel on the app shared her thoughts in a TikTok video.

"If you're following the story with the homeless man who asked the young lady for a cup of tea and she got him a cup of tea and a place to live, she got him all the things, including a $400,000 GoFundMe, come on in the room cause the story is taking a turn," she said.

After recapping the situation, she explained that the man's violent past has come out and that GoFundMe is holding the money raised.

"They will not release the funds," she said. "So you mean to tell me, because of something this man did in his past, four years ago plus, can anybody explain to me what the money that was raised to help the homeless man, Alonzo, has to do with what he did four-plus years ago?"

She also said that while she doesn't think that what he's done in his past is right, he did do his time, adding, "This is a new season."

Many others agreed with her thought process.

"Let the past go and live in the present. Come on. Don’t let them take his blessings," one person wrote in the comments. Another added, "It’s not GoFundMe’s place to pass judgement. All GFM is is a collection site. That’s where their involvement should end. Nobody knows his struggles."

People who donated on GoFundMe also left comments about the money being held.

"Please give this man his money! This is not fair or worth the lawsuit," one person wrote.

"Really a blessing. Now, why is GoFundMe holding UNC’s money? Didn’t he serve time already for an incident? Tell me who’s without fault!?! Does that make him less deserving?" asked another.