Update 2:52 p.m. May 29: The three crowdfunding campaigns for the victims have topped $1 million. Another effort to raise money for necessities and mental health services for the two girls who were the subjects of the suspect's alleged racial harassment has nearly reached $20,000.

Original story below

In the day and a half since two men were fatally stabbed and a third injured at a Northeast Portland MAX station, three crowdfunding campaigns collectively gathered more than $700,000 to assist the victims' families by Sunday afternoon.

The efforts collectively gather thousands of dollars in contributions every few minutes.

Witnesses say Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, boarded a MAX Green Line train at Lloyd Center Friday evening and began barking racial slurs at two teenage girls, one of whom was wearing a hijab. When three men intervened, Christian cut and killed Rick John Best, 53, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23, and wounded Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21.

The crowdfunding campaigns sprang up soon after news reports spread of the attack. Two are designed to help all three families with medical costs and to alleviate any financial burden on Best's family — he is survived by a wife and four children.

A GoFundMe campaign started by Portland-area restauranteur Nick Zukin has so far brought in more than $317,000. Another administered by the Muslim Education Trust in Tigard and national organization CelebrateMercy via Launchgood, has raised more than $276,000.

The third, a GoFundMe campaign organized by Carlos Espinoza, a friend of the Fletcher's, has so far raised nearly $106,000. That effort is dedicated to the survivor's medical expenses, including for any future treatments.

Officials at GoFundMe have verified Zukin's and Espinoza's campaigns.

The attack came on the first night of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Officials at MET, the Muslim Center in Tigard, hosted a vigil after the first day's fasting came to an end. Faith leaders were joined by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who said the packed auditorium gave him hope.

Earlier in the day, another vigil at Northeast 42nd Avenue and Halsey, the intersection nearest the MAX station where the stabbing took place, drew a crowd of about 1,000.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com