Black firefighter 'devastated' after rioters destroy bar he spent life savings to build

Minneapolis firefighter Korboi "KB" Balla says his dream was always to open a sports bar, something he almost achieved after "countless hours" working on the project.

His initial open date in March had to be pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was ready to finally open his doors in June, but that plan came to a crashing halt when rioters destroyed his business on Wednesday.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," a teary-eyed Balla told a CBS affiliate. The outlet reported that Balla invested his life savings into opening the bar which looters infiltrated as cameras were rolling.

"We've been working so hard for this place. This is not just for me. This is for my family," Balla says on the video.

On a GoFundMe for rebuilding his bar, he confirmed that it was destroyed Thursday night.

"The building and my business was completely burned down last night," he said. "I am devastated but I know something positive will come out of all this. Stay blessed everyone!"

In an update, he said: "To find out that the countless hours, hard work, late nights away from my kids, and family had all been for nothing was soul-shattering. It is not the material things, more so the time that cannot be reclaimed."

Created just a day ago, KB Balla's fundraiser has already surpassed its goal of $100,000. As of Friday evening, the total was over $300,000 and nearly 12,000 people had donated.

Twyana Balla, KB's wife, posted footage of the scene on Facebook, and condemned the idea that the riots were somehow achieving justice for George Floyd, who died earlier this week after a police encounter caught on video that went viral and prompted protests in multiple U. S. cities.

"As we were standing in the front of the restaurant, people were in the back trying to steal the safe!" she said in a Facebook post from Thursday.

"This just happened an hour ago in broad daylight! It’s so easy to say what people should and shouldn’t do until it’s affects you! Yes people are mad and upset, I get that and I understand the protest, I’m hearing people say F*** the business they have insurance WELL WE DONT AND THIS IS ALL OUT OF POCKET!!!" she added.

"Let someone come run in your home and loot for the cause then and let’s see you be ok with it! This is your neighborhood and if you have children you could... (Read more)

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