Walmart stabbing victim’s family raises awareness for organ donation
NEW AT 6– THE FAMILY OF THE 18 YEAR OLD — WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH OUTSIDE A CHATHAM COUNTY WALMART — IS DONATING HIS WJCL 22 NEWS’ GRACE RODRIGUEZ — IS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL — WHERE HE’S – *NATS* “CALLING OUR AMBASSADORS TO THE OR, CODE HONOR WALK, CALLING OUR AMBASSADORS TO THE OR, CODE HONOR WALK.” THE TEEN, WHO HIS FAMILY HAS ASKED FOR US NOT TO NAME OR SHOW HIS FACE, WAS WHEELED INTO MEMORIAL HEALTH FRIDAY MORNING. HOSPITAL STAFF LINED THE WALLS OF THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AS HIS FAMILY, DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL STAFF HONORED HIM WITH AN HONOR WALK… AS HE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE OPERATION ROOM. WE SPOKE WITH MEMORIAL HEALTH’S CHIEF OF TRAUMA SERVICES… ABOUT THE LEGACY THE TEEN WILL BE LEAVING BEHIND. DR. JAMES DUNNE, CHIEF OF TRAUMA SERVICES “THIS YOUNG, 18 YEAR OLD, HAD THE FORESIGHT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT ON HIS DRIVER’S LICENSE, SO THAT HE COULD BE, AN ORGAN DONOR, WHICH NOT TOO MANY 18 YEAR OLD KIDS HAVE THAT FORESIGHT TO DO.” THE 18 YEAR OLD WAS STABBED ON OCTOBER 23RD AT THE WALMART ON HIGHWAY 80… AFTER AN ALTERCATION ESCALATED WHEN ANOTHER MAN LEFT THE STORE… AND THE TEEN KICKED HIS SHOPPING CART AS HE PASSED BY. WE SPOKE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND AT A FAMILY GATHERING HONORING HIS LIFE… SHE SAYS THE TEEN WAS ONE OF A KIND. SIENNA REITER, GIRLFRIEND “HE LOVED EVERYONE. AND LIKE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM, HE WOULD HE WOULD DIE FOR THEM.” ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION… EVERY ORGAN DONOR IS ABLE TO SAVE EIGHT LIVES… AND HELP OVER 75 MORE. DR. DUNNE SAYS THE WAITING LIST FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN GEORGIA IS AROUND THREE THOUSAND… HE SAYS IT’S TOO SOON FOR THEM TO HAVE FOUND A MATCH FOR THE TEEN’S ORGANS. DOCTOR DUNNE SAYS THAT ORGAN DONATION IS MORE THAN JUST THE LUNGS, KIDNEY AND HEART… HE SAYS EVERY PART OF THE BODY IS ESSENTIAL, DOWN
Walmart stabbing victim’s family raises awareness for organ donation
His family hopes to inspire others to register as donors
Updated: 8:21 PM EDT Oct 31, 2025
Editorial Standards
The 18-year-old who was fatally stabbed outside a Chatham County Walmart last week has donated his organs. His family is hoping it will raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.The man was wheeled into Memorial Health on Friday morning for an Honor Walk, a ceremony where hospital staff line the halls to pay tribute to the donors. The teen’s family, along with doctors and staff, accompanied him as he was brought into the operating room.Dr. James Dunne, the chief of trauma services at Memorial Health, praised the teen’s responsibility.”This young, 18-year-old, had the foresight to be able to, you know, put that on his driver’s license, so that he could be an organ donor, which not too many 18-year-old kids have that foresight to do,” Dunne said.The teen was stabbed at the Walmart on Highway 80 after an altercation escalated. According to reports, the incident began when another man left the store, and the teen kicked his shopping cart as he passed by. The teen’s girlfriend, Sienna Reiter, described him as noble.”He loved everyone. And like every single person in this room, he would die for them,” Reiter said during a family gathering held in his honor.According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, one organ donor can save up to eight lives and help more than 75 others through tissue donation. In 2024, over 48,000 organ transplants were performed nationwide, but more than 100,000 people remain on the waiting list. Dr. Dunne noted that in Georgia, the waiting list includes over 3,000 people. Dunne says it is too early for them to determine matches for the teen’s organs, but the demand for them is there.Dunne also shared that organ donation extends beyond major organs, like the heart, lungs and kidneys. Tissues such as skin and eye tissue are also vital and can improve the lives of many. The teen’s family hopes their decision will inspire others to consider registering as organ donors, turning loss into life for those in need.
The 18-year-old who was fatally stabbed outside a Chatham County Walmart last week has donated his organs. His family is hoping it will raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
The man was wheeled into Memorial Health on Friday morning for an Honor Walk, a ceremony where hospital staff line the halls to pay tribute to the donors. The teen’s family, along with doctors and staff, accompanied him as he was brought into the operating room.
Dr. James Dunne, the chief of trauma services at Memorial Health, praised the teen’s responsibility.
“This young, 18-year-old, had the foresight to be able to, you know, put that on his driver’s license, so that he could be an organ donor, which not too many 18-year-old kids have that foresight to do,” Dunne said.
The teen was stabbed at the Walmart on Highway 80 after an altercation escalated. According to reports, the incident began when another man left the store, and the teen kicked his shopping cart as he passed by. The teen’s girlfriend, Sienna Reiter, described him as noble.
“He loved everyone. And like every single person in this room, he would die for them,” Reiter said during a family gathering held in his honor.
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, one organ donor can save up to eight lives and help more than 75 others through tissue donation. In 2024, over 48,000 organ transplants were performed nationwide, but more than 100,000 people remain on the waiting list. Dr. Dunne noted that in Georgia, the waiting list includes over 3,000 people. Dunne says it is too early for them to determine matches for the teen’s organs, but the demand for them is there.
Dunne also shared that organ donation extends beyond major organs, like the heart, lungs and kidneys. Tissues such as skin and eye tissue are also vital and can improve the lives of many.
The teen’s family hopes their decision will inspire others to consider registering as organ donors, turning loss into life for those in need.
link
