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The NYU student killed by an alleged drunken driver was a registered organ donor — “so someone’s going to be getting a heart of gold,” his grieving dad told The Post on Friday.
Raife Milligan, a 21-year-old aspiring doctor from Indiana, was fatally mowed down early Monday in Manhattan’s East Village — and his father, Joseph Milligan, said his son’s organs were being donated, as per the selfless young man’s wish.
“He was an organ donor, so someone’s going to be getting a heart of gold,” said Joseph Milligan, 59, of Jasper. “Whoever gets it is going to get a heart of gold.”
The dad said his son’s body will now be brought back home to Indiana for interment.
Raife, a bio-chemistry major at the prestigious school, was fatally struck by a Chevy Camaro as he crossed East Houston Street near First Avenue about 2:45 a.m. Monday. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.
The driver of the Camaro, Michael de Guzman, stayed at the scene, where he was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired, police said. Charges against the Queens man were expected to be upgraded after Milligan’s death.
The late NYU student’s father said he was angered by his son’s killing but declined to elaborate.
“Basically, I have no comment,” Milligan said when asked about de Guzman.
While funeral plans for Raife are still pending, some of his friends at NYU held a vigil in his memory late Thursday.
“Raife was Raife, and everyone loved Raife,” the mourning father said. “He was never going to change to fit your needs.”
Milligan said his son was an accomplished swimmer who enjoyed football and track, too. He was also a passionate music lover who played the guitar, his father said.
“He was such a big fan of The Beatles,” Joseph Milligan said. “He knew all of [their songs].”
Raife was just minutes younger than his fraternal twin brother, Reece, who studies secondary education at Butler University in Indianapolis, according to his sibling’s Facebook profile.
Reece Milligan’s profile features a heartbreaking photo posted Wednesday of the smiling twins as young children. Their sister, Ryanne, also shared information about an online fundraiser on Facebook aiming to offset her brother’s funeral costs.
“Ryanne, I am so sorry for your loss,” one reply read. “My deepest condolences during this unimaginably tough time.”
The fundraising push had generated more than $30,000 as of early Friday.
Meanwhile, Joseph Milligan cut short Friday’s interview with The Post while discussing his son, indicating he was still too distraught to talk.
“Right now is just not a good time,” he said.
Source: NYPOST
