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ST. LOUIS — The 2-year-old son of a police officer shot and killed in the line of duty now has a special way to hold his father’s memory close.
St. Louis County police officer Blake Snyder was killed last month while responding to a disturbance call, according to KSDK News. Police said an 18-year-old opened fire on Snyder, fatally striking him in the chin.
Synder leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth, and their 2-year-old son, Malachi, KSDK reported. Earlier this week, Elizabeth Snyder posted a Facebook photo of her son with two very special teddy bears made from the fabric of his father’s uniforms.
As of Friday morning, the touching post had garnered 32,000 reactions, more than 5,200 shares and more than 1,400 comments.
“God bless you and your little hero,” wrote one commenter. “A heartfelt thank you goes out to your husband for his sacrifice ... and to you for ensuring that your son will always know the kind of man that his father was,” wrote another.
The bears were made by an Illinois company, Thea’s Blessing Bears, according to WLOX News. Thea’s specializes in turning “a memory into a keepsake,” according to its website.
The St. Louis community has rallied around the Snyder family since his passing. More than 200 area restaurants participated in a Dine Around event that ultimately raised more than $175,000 for his widow and son, KSDK reported.
“It's unbelievable to see the community come out and unite," Stephanie Mulholland, owner of participating restaurant Big Chief, told KSDK.
Also this week, students from the district where Blake Snyder was once a student raised and donated nearly $13,000 to BackStoppers in his honor, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.
According to its website, BackStoppers helps support spouses and children of police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs who’ve been killed or injured in the line of duty.
Trenton Foster, the man accused of pulling the trigger, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Snyder's death, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.
