A fundraising effort for a Mississippi deputy shot and killed in the line of duty last week has already raised nearly $42,000.

George County (Miss.) Deputy Jeremy Malone was 44 years old and a 21-year veteran of law enforcement when he was gunned down by a convicted felon during a traffic stop at a Dollar General store on Highway 98 in southeastern Mississippi, just a few miles from the Mississippi-Alabama state line, about 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

Malone was still approaching the vehicle with a possible tag violation when 42-year-old Rickey Labaron Powell apparently fired several shots, killing Malone, before fleeing the scene. Powell was a convicted felon who served prison time on charges including assault, forgery, robbery and weapons violations, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.

Other law enforcement officers responding to the scene picked up the chase of Powell, which continued into Perry County before Powell was killed in an exchange of gunfire with both officers from both the George County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The GoFundMe page for Malone’s family is organized by Sean Tindell, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

“He will be sorely missed by all of his family, friends and the entire community,” Tindell wrote. “The Department of Public Safety asks for prayers for all who knew and loved Jeremy.”

All fund raised will go directly to Malone’s family, which includes his wife of 13 years, Hilary, and his three daughters: Abbie (18); Alivia (11); and Brooklyn (8).

When the GoFundMe page was launched, it was with the stated goal of $27,000. By Monday afternoon, it had raised $41,624 through 525 donations, including an anonymous donation of $2,000 and four other donations of $1,000 or more.