Johan Moreno, the brother of NBC reporter Eliana Moreno, has publicly criticized individuals he claims are attempting to exploit her death by setting up unauthorized fundraising campaigns. His comments were made in a post on X on Wednesday, following the helicopter crash in Los Angeles that resulted in the deaths of Eliana Moreno and two others.
"At this time, our family and her fiancé are not collecting monetary donations," Johan Moreno stated. "Any online donation pages are not endorsed by our family. Thank you for your well wishes and understanding." He also shared a nostalgic photo of his sister working inside NewsChopper 4, the helicopter that crashed.
"RIP sis, I will love you to the end of time," he wrote. "My family and I just went through the worst day of our lives. We appreciate all the support and love."
Eliana Moreno, 38, was killed in the crash while covering a bus collision in Chatsworth. Tributes have been paid to her, with flowers placed at a memorial at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, where the helicopter operated. LA aerial photographer Jake Asner, who created the memorial, remarked on her skill, stating, "She was just so wildly good at what she did."
Jonathan Gonzalez, an NBC Los Angeles reporter, described Moreno as "one of a kind" and noted her exceptional abilities in her role.
The crash also claimed the life of the helicopter's pilot, George Marciniw, and Guatemalan national Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, who was on the ground. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days. Investigators are looking into surveillance footage from nearby buildings and will review the helicopter's logbooks. The wreckage will be moved to a secure facility for further examination. A final report may take up to 18 months to complete, but NTSB investigator-in-charge Fabian Salazar noted that the livestream video of the helicopter's last moments is crucial evidence. The video shows the helicopter descending as alarms sound, with Moreno heard asking, "You can’t pull up?" before the video cuts out, indicating the moment of the crash.