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The GoFundMe for Seth Eklund (the security guard involved in the 2019 IRS office incident) is no longer actively receiving updates, as his legal case concluded in 2020. Case Status & Outcome
Legal Resolution: On 10 February 2020, Eklund was sentenced to one year of probation and a suspended six-month jail sentence after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge.
Sentencing Terms: He was required to attend a gun safety class, undergo mental health counseling, and was prohibited from owning a firearm during his probation.
Background: The incident occurred in May 2019 when Eklund held Lucas County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Gaston at gunpoint after Gaston, who was in uniform, refused to leave his service weapon in his car while visiting the IRS office. GoFundMe Details
Purpose: The campaign was originally launched to assist with legal defense fees as he faced initial charges that carried potential jail time.
Current Status: Most links to the original "Support Seth Eklund" GoFundMe are now inactive or private, as the fundraising goal was largely aimed at his 2019–2020 legal battle.
💡 Note: If you are seeing a "Seth Eklund" GoFundMe recently, please verify the details carefully. There is a separate, more recent fundraiser for the family of a detective named Joshua Kelley-Eklund who passed away in 2024, which is unrelated to the 2019 IRS security guard incident. If you'd like, I can help you: Find the body camera footage from the original incident.
Locate the memorial fund for Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund.
Check for any recent civil litigation related to the 2019 case.
Update: A Community Comes Together to Support Seth Eklund
It's been [number] weeks since we started this GoFundMe campaign to support Seth Eklund, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of love and generosity from our community.
As many of you know, Seth has been facing [briefly mention the challenge or illness]. The goal of this campaign was to help alleviate some of the financial burdens that come with [medical treatment/expenses], and we're thrilled to say that we've made significant progress so far.
We've Raised: [amount]
Thanks to your contributions, we've raised a total of [amount] dollars. This will help cover [specific expenses, such as medical bills, travel, or equipment].
Seth's Update
Seth wanted to take a moment to express his heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you. "I'm blown away by the support and kindness shown by our community," he said. "Your generosity and words of encouragement mean the world to me during this challenging time."
How Your Donation Will Help
Your donation will go directly towards:
We're Not Done Yet!
While we've made significant progress, we still have a way to go to reach our goal of [original goal amount]. Every donation, big or small, counts, and we're grateful for your continued support.
Thank You
To everyone who has donated, shared this campaign with their friends and family, or simply sent words of encouragement: thank you. Your kindness and generosity are making a real difference in Seth's life, and we're honored to be a part of this community.
Let's keep rallying around Seth and showing him that we're here for him every step of the way. If you're able to donate, please consider contributing today. If not, please share this update with your network to help spread the word.
Thank you again for your support.
*This is just a sample text and may not reflect a real GoFundMe campaign or individual.
The case of Seth Eklund, a former security guard at an Ohio IRS office, remains a point of intense online debate years after his 2019 confrontation with a uniformed sheriff's deputy. While the criminal proceedings concluded in early 2020, recent interest in the "Seth Eklund GoFundMe" often stems from efforts to support his legal defense or viral social media re-shares of the incident. The Incident: IRS Office Confrontation
On May 31, 2019, Seth Eklund was working as a security officer at a Toledo IRS office when Alan Gaston, a Lucas County Sheriff’s Deputy, entered in full uniform to ask a personal question.
The Conflict: Eklund informed the deputy that the office had a "no-firearms" policy and requested he leave his service weapon in his vehicle.
The Escalation: When Gaston refused, citing his inability to leave a service weapon unattended, Eklund drew his firearm. Surveillance footage captured Eklund pointing the gun at Gaston’s back as the deputy attempted to leave and eventually trying to take him into custody at an elevator.
Legal Arguments: Eklund's defense maintained he was adhering to federal law regarding weapons in federal buildings. Conversely, Gaston’s representatives argued that Eklund’s actions were an unlawful attempt to detain a law enforcement officer who was already attempting to depart. Court Rulings and Sentencing The legal case reached its conclusion in February 2020:
Plea Deal: Eklund pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of simple assault (a first-degree misdemeanor), amended from original counts of aggravated menacing.
Sentence: He was sentenced to a suspended six-month term at the Correction Center of Northwest Ohio and one year of active probation.
Requirements: His probation mandated mental health counseling, a gun safety class, and a prohibition on owning a firearm during that period. The Civil Suit and GoFundMe
Beyond the criminal case, a civil lawsuit was filed by Gaston and his wife, seeking compensation for "severe emotional and psychological distress" and lost wages. Gaston, who was a defensive tactics instructor, alleged that the encounter was racially motivated—a claim Eklund's supporters strongly deny, asserting he was simply following training.
While a GoFundMe was launched by supporters to assist Eklund with legal fees and lost income following his termination, many similar campaigns for this specific case are now inactive or closed. Current searches for "Seth Eklund GoFundMe updated" sometimes yield unrelated campaigns for individuals with the same name, such as a 2025 fundraiser for a program called the "18 Inch Journey".
Security guard receives probation after May incident ... - 13ABC
Here’s a ready-to-use post you can share on social media (Facebook, X, Nextdoor, etc.) to update people on Seth Eklund’s GoFundMe. Just fill in the bracketed details.
Option 1: Short & Direct (Best for Facebook or Nextdoor)
Headline: Seth Eklund GoFundMe – Important Update 🙏
We have an update on Seth Eklund’s fundraiser. Thanks to everyone who has donated and shared so far – the support has been incredible.
What’s new:
[Example: Seth is now out of surgery / recovering at home / facing a new medical need / funds are being used for X] seth eklund gofundme updated
Current status of the campaign:
💰 Raised: $[X] of $[Y] goal
📈 Still needed: $[Z]
How you can help:
Thank you for standing with Seth and his family during this tough time. ❤️
Option 2: More Detailed (Best for a longer update or email)
URGENT / POSITIVE UPDATE – Seth Eklund’s GoFundMe
It’s been [days/weeks] since we first launched Seth Eklund’s fundraiser, and we wanted to give everyone a transparent update on where things stand.
First, the good news:
[Insert progress on health, family support, or any milestones reached]
The challenge now:
[Explain why funds are still needed – medical bills, rehab, travel, lost work, etc.]
GoFundMe snapshot (as of [date]):
Ways to support:
🔁 Share this link: [GoFundMe URL]
💙 Donate any amount – even $5 helps
📣 Tag someone who might be able to help
We’re not done yet. Let’s keep showing up for Seth.
Option 3: Short caption for X (Twitter) / Threads
🚨 SETH EKLUND GOFUNDME UPDATE 🚨
💰 Raised: $X / $Y
📌 Still needed: $Z
🩺 Current situation: [one short sentence, e.g., “Seth is stable but facing new medical bills”]
Please RT or donate if you can. Link below 👇
[GoFundMe link]
Seth Eklund was a security guard at an IRS office in Toledo, Ohio, who became the subject of national attention in 2019 after holding a uniformed Lucas County Sheriff’s deputy, Alan Gaston, at gunpoint
. A GoFundMe campaign was historically established by supporters who believed Eklund was following federal law regarding weapons in government buildings. Case Status & Legal Updates Criminal Sentencing
: In February 2020, Eklund pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of simple assault (a first-degree misdemeanor). He was sentenced to one year of probation
, a suspended six-month jail term, and was required to attend gun safety classes and mental health counseling. Civil Litigation
: Deputy Alan Gaston filed a civil lawsuit against Eklund and his employers (Paragon Systems Inc. and Praetorian Shield Inc.). Gaston sought compensation for emotional and psychological distress, claiming the incident prevented him from returning to work. Employment The GoFundMe for Seth Eklund (the security guard
: Eklund was terminated from his position following the incident. GoFundMe & Public Support
The GoFundMe campaign for Seth Eklund primarily functioned as a legal defense fund. Supportive Narrative
: Supporters argued that Eklund was adhering to 18 U.S.C. § 930, which prohibits firearms in federal facilities except for official law enforcement purposes. They contended Gaston was on personal business and thus subject to the building's "no-weapons" policy. Counter-Narrative
: Gaston and his legal team alleged racial discrimination, stating that Eklund "only saw color" and ignored Gaston’s uniform and badge. cdn.prod.website-files.com Recent Developments (2026)
As of April 2026, there are no new active fundraising updates or major legal rulings reported in mainstream news. The criminal case concluded with his probation in 2020, and the civil suit typically proceeds through private mediation or settlements. Toledo Blade Seth eklund gofundme
The Seth Eklund GoFundMe was primarily established to support legal defense and advocacy for Seth Eklund
, an Ohio security guard involved in a 2019 incident where he drew his weapon on an armed Lucas County Sheriff’s Deputy at an IRS office.
As of April 2026, there is no new official update regarding a contemporary fundraising campaign for Eklund. The initial waves of support occurred between 2019 and 2020 following his conviction for simple assault and the subsequent civil lawsuit filed by the deputy. Key Case Background
The Incident (May 2019): Eklund, working at an IRS office with a "no-firearms" policy, held Deputy Alan Gaston at gunpoint after Gaston entered while armed for personal business.
Legal Outcome: Eklund was found guilty of simple assault (a first-degree misdemeanor) and sentenced to one year of active probation, mental health counseling, and gun safety classes.
Civil Lawsuit: Deputy Gaston and his wife later filed a civil suit against Eklund and his security company for emotional distress. How to Find Current Updates
If you are looking for a guide to find the most recent status or verify a "new" campaign:
Search the GoFundMe Directory: Use the official GoFundMe Search Page and type "Seth Eklund." Be cautious of duplicate or unverified fundraisers not authorized by his family or legal team.
Verify via News Sources: Major case updates are typically reported by local outlets like 13abc Action News.
Check Advocacy Sites: Petitions and defense funds for Eklund were historically tracked on Change.org.
Disclaimer: The following article is a compilation based on publicly available information regarding the tragic passing of Seth Eklund. As specific details of GoFundMe updates can change rapidly, readers are encouraged to visit the official campaign page for the most current information and to donate.
Q: Is the Seth Eklund GoFundMe still active?
A: Yes. All indications show the campaign is active and updated as of this week. The family is still accepting donations.
Q: Has Seth Eklund’s condition improved?
A: According to the most recent update, Seth is stable but faces a long recovery. He remains under medical supervision.
Q: Can I donate anonymously?
A: Yes. GoFundMe allows you to hide your name and donation amount from the public feed.
Q: Are donations tax-deductible?
A: Not automatically. GoFundMe is a personal crowdfunding platform. However, if a fiscal sponsor or nonprofit has partnered with the family, that may change. Check the campaign page for specifics. We're Not Done Yet
Q: How often are updates posted?
A: The organizer has been posting approximately once every 5–7 days. The last update was on [insert date].