Red Baron driver pauses $784,273 fund after viral prank

A crowdfunding campaign for a Michigan pizza delivery driver reached $784,273 before he paused it on Nov. 5. Walt Zerod, a father of four who delivers frozen pizzas for Red Baron, stopped the page after roughly 22,800 individuals contributed to the fund. The original goal was $900,000. The pause marks the end of a week in which Zerod became a national figure after a video of him confronting pranksters went viral.

The incident occurred in August when Zerod was stocking frozen pizzas at a grocery store. Two men approached him to ask for the time. They then played a fake Apple Pay transaction sound and claimed he had taken $10 from them. Zerod remained calm at first but grew frustrated as they continued to provoke him. He explained in the footage that he had four children at home and was struggling to pay his mortgage. He noted that he had already worked past his scheduled shift and still had ten more stores to visit. He shouted, “I gotta wake up at 5 in the morning and do 10 more stores!”

The video drew widespread criticism for the pranksters. Their Instagram account, ThreeOfAKind, was deleted after the clip spread. Luke Oakenshield, a man from Arizona, launched the fundraiser on Oct. 27. Oakenshield said he started the campaign because he was concerned Zerod might face consequences at work for an incident he did not create. The two have since spoken and developed a friendship, Zerod noted in his final update.

Zerod thanked donors in a post on the GoFundMe page on Thursday. He wrote that their kind words meant the world to his family. He said he has been able to spend extra time at home with his family this week. He decided to pause donations to mark one week of support. He urged people with the means to help others to consider supporting a different fundraiser, a local charity, or a church helping families in need this holiday season.

Minnesota-based Schwan’s, the parent company of Red Baron, confirmed that Zerod is a direct-store-delivery employee. A company spokesperson told The Post last week that Zerod is doing well and remains a valued member of the team. The incident took place in August, according to the company. Zerod said his latest update would be his last as he steps out of the spotlight to focus on the holidays with his family.

The fund now stands at $784,273. The original target was $900,000. Zerod will not accept further donations. He will remain employed by Red Baron. The pranksters’ social media presence has been removed. The video continues to circulate online.