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Support Pouring In For Family Of Boy Killed In Building Collapse And Fire

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An explosion in East Baltimore tragically killed a little boy. Now a Baltimore community steps in to support his family during this devastating time. And you can help, too.

Linh Bui has details on their efforts.

That building collapse and fire injured three people and killed an 8-year-old boy. There's already been an outpouring of support for his family.

A caring little boy who loved basketball was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Last week, an East Baltimore rowhome turned into a deadly firebomb. A powerful blast caused the building to collapse on top of 8-year-old Troy Douglas as he walked home from school.

His mother, Shanika Brown, recalls the terrifying moment she found out what happened.

"My oldest son called me and said, 'Troy didn't come in from school yet.' A house had exploded and that's the way that Troy walks and he didn't make it home from school," she said.

Support is now pouring in for the family. A memorial fund online has raised more than $4,100 to help them during this difficult time.

"It's hard not to see my son walk through the door," Brown said.

Troy Douglas' funeral will be held Wednesday morning at the Church of the Dynamic Deliverance on N. Linwood Avenue.  It'll mark one week since the boy's death.

"We're all hurting. The whole neighborhood is hurting. Some of the children in our church are actually in his class, so we took it personal," Bishop James Adams, Church of the Dynamic Deliverance, said.

Adams expects a full house on Wednesday. The community will come together to remember a life lost too soon.

"We want to call it tragedy to triumph. There was a tragedy, we want a triumph and see if we can help the family and bring the community back together," Adams said.

Meantime, the investigation continues. BGE is still working to find out what caused the deadly disaster.

Douglas' elementary school will hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Monday at N. Lakewood Avenue and Jefferson Street.

For more information on how you can donate to the memorial fund, click here.

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