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Nov. 26, 2009 / 9:16 PM

O'Neal pays for slain child's burial

Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal during a game against the Toronto Raptors, Oct. 28, 2009. UPI /Christine Chew

Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal during a game against the Toronto Raptors, Oct. 28, 2009. UPI /Christine Chew | License Photo

CLEVELAND, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- NBA great Shaquille O'Neal paid for the funeral of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, allegedly killed by a man who paid for her sexual services.

"I was sitting at home watching it on the news and the story brought a tear to my eye," O'Neal told The Cleveland Plain Dealer Wednesday."Being a law enforcement guy that investigates crimes against children, I wanted to be able to help in some way."

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O'Neal received police training while he was playing with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Bucks.

Investigators say Shaniya's mother, Antoinette Davis, allowed Mario McNeill to use the girl sexually to pay off a drug debt. McNeill is charged with kidnapping, rape and murder while Davis also faces charges.

Shaniya was buried Sunday, the Fayetteville Observer reported. About 2,000 people packed Manna Baptist Church in Fayetteville for the funeral.

A spokesman for Shaniya's family said any contributions made for the funeral that were unspent will be donated to organizations that help abused and neglected children.

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