Amiyah Dunston, Baldwin girl killed in pit bull attack, laid to rest

The 9-year-old Baldwin girl killed in a pit bull attack in Elmont was laid to rest Saturday in Uniondale.

Funeral services for Amiyah Dunston were held at Zion Cathedral Church in Freeport, followed by burial at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale. A viewing was held Friday at the church.

Donors to an online campaign have now raised more than $28,000 for relatives.

Supporters of Amiyah Dunston's family set up the fundraising drive on GoFundMe.com to help with costs related to the funeral and other expenses, a statement on the website read.

"She was a beautiful, smart and loving girl who touched the lives of all who knew her," the description says.

The pit bull attacked Amiyah on Sunday morning as she played with two friends in the backyard of an Elmont home. A Nassau police officer responding to a 911 call shot and killed the dog. Police arrested the pit bull's owner at the scene on an unrelated charge of violating an order of protection.

Amiyah was pronounced dead a few hours later at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream.

Nicole Robinson, the author of the GoFundMe page, did not respond to requests for comment, but identified herself online Friday as Amiyah's godmother.

"This event has truly been rough because we are still in shock that this has happened to her," Robinson wrote on the campaign page. "We had no idea that we would raise the amount that we have so far but at the same time Amiyah was loved by many."

Brian Willis, the fiance of Dunston's mother, Mayra Castillo, had confirmed Wednesday that the page is going to benefit their family.

"Thank you very much on behalf of me and the family," Willis said when reached by phone Wednesday night.

The initial goal of $15,000 was surpassed two days after the donations started rolling in from friends, family, community members and others who chose to remain anonymous. Many donors included words of condolence with their contributions.

"To my little 'super star,' your smile was infectious and your spirit lifted others," wrote a donor identified as Christopher Greer.

Another donor, identified as Andrew Nadien, said of Amiyah, "I am blessed to have shared so much teaching time with you!"