School groups raise funds for family of late child
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The community has come together to raise money for the family of Alexander Khoudiakov, a 12-year-old boy killed when a gun belonging to his friend's father went off.

Khoudiakov died June 26 from a single gunshot wound to the head while playing at an 11-year-old friend's house in the Kingswood Station development.

Police are still investigating the situation, and no charges have been filed in the case.

Meanwhile, a group of girls who are friends with Alexander's older brother, Max, has started a memorial fund to help his family with any expenses. Patti Kayes, the mother of one of the girls, said they have not tallied up a total yet, and are collecting money from all over, not just East Brunswick.

The fund, which was started by Vicki Kayes, Katie Todoroff and Becca Tefera, aims to relieve some of the financial stress incurred by the Khoudiakov family.

"Max and his mother [Irina] have suffered enormously," according to a letter from the group. "To add to their situation, they are struggling from extreme financial hardship."

Alexander's father, Maxim, died in 2003. The family moved to East Brunswick two years ago from Sayreville, where Alexander had attended the Wilson School.

A local church did help out with expenses related to Alexander's June 29 funeral, but "now having to deal with the tragedy of losing her youngest son, Irina may now find these financial issues to be overwhelming," the group wrote.

Also pitching in is a group run by PTA presidents from Frost School, where Alexander had just finished sixth grade, and Hammarskjold Middle School, where he was to begin in September.

Linda Rondinelli, PTA president at Frost, said money collected will be given to Irina. The donations were collected through word-of-mouth, e-mails and boxes at both schools.

Initially, the money was to be used for funeral expenses, but since those have been covered, it will instead go to "any immediate expenses," she said.

More than $5,000 was raised at Frost alone, Rondinelli said. The drive was set to end yesterday, but donations to a memorial fund in Alexander's name will still be accepted.

It remains unclear as to what exactly transpired the night of June 26.

Lawrence Bitterman, an attorney for the 11-year-old friend, did not wish to comment to the Sentinel.

He was reported as telling The Star-Ledger that the 11-year-old had taken the gun out of his father's closet and was showing it to two of his friends, including Alexander, when it went off. He said Alexander wanted to hold the gun, and that it went off when he went to take it from the 11-year old.

He said the 11-year-old did not know the gun was loaded.

The incident occurred in a bedroom of the 11-year-old's townhouse. Alexander's family also lives in the Kingswood Station complex.