A cherished community leader who founded a nonprofit to prevent gun violence is dead after he was shot Saturday in Largo, Maryland, outside a restaurant.
At 12:45 a.m., Prince George's County police responded to the 9600 block of Lottsford Court to a report of gunshots. When police arrived on the scene, they found Cornelius McDonald, of Upper Marlboro, suffering from gunshot wounds.
McDonald was pronounced dead on the scene, police say.
“It's never good at any point in time, but for this to happen around the holidays, it's even rougher,” said McDonald’s cousin, Rico Scott.
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McDonald was a "beloved leader" who attended Largo High School, Prince George's County Council member Wala Blegay said in a statement. She said his "dedication to uplifting others has left a lasting legacy."
Rico says the family is stunned and heartbroken as they deal with the difficult but familiar pain. McDonald's brother lost his life to gun violence more than five years ago.
His brother's death motivated McDonald to start his nonprofit Stay Solid, which supports youth and young adults in the region who are facing mental health challenges.
Stay Solid released a statement describing McDonald as "a cherished leader, advocate, and pillar of our community."
"His mission to shed light on mental health within inner-city communities and his passionate efforts to combat gun violence were nothing short of inspiring," the statement said.
McDonald would share his story with high schoolers in the community who are facing similar trials and tribulations. He was dedicated to preventing gun violence and showing love to others.
“You know, I would see him at any random time, or even when he was doing his work, and first thing he'd do was come up to me and give me a hug,” Scott, McDonald's cousin, said. “That's just him.”
McDonald was a loving, dedicated father to his 7-year-old son.
Another cousin, Lachelle Harrison, says the loss is monumental, but they take comfort in knowing McDonald touched so many lives.
“For us, he was the glue and the heartbeat to our family,” she said. “He loved having fun, and he just loved being around people. He was a change agent in so many different ways, and he was a beautiful soul.”
Investigators are working to identify and locate the person who shot McDonald. The motive behind the shooting is also under investigation.
