According to Chappell, Nikoui’s brother, 28-year-old Dakota Halverson, “had been expressing some of the things that had been bothering him and one of those things was the loss of his brother Kareem and how he just wanted to be with him again. He was still having a hard time believing he was actually gone.”
“He’d sneak into the cemetery at night and sleep on Kareem’s resting place. He took his life across from a permanent memorial we have here in town for his brother Kareem,” she said.
“We have been in contact with the family and can confirm that Dakota Halverson is the brother of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui,” Sgt. Brandi Swan with the sheriff’s department told CNN in an email. “Unfortunately, Dakota’s death was declared a suicide.”
“Dakota Halverson was a loving son, brother and friend. Losing his brother nearly one year ago has proven too difficult to bear. Any donations for his burial and services would be greatly appreciated as he wanted to be buried next to his brother Kareem, who was killed August 26th, 2021, while serving his country. His family and I want to honor his wishes,” Chappell wrote on GoFundMe.