Police arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of an anti-gun violence advocate outside of a restaurant in Largo, Maryland, early Saturday.
Prince George's County police went to the 9600 block of Lottsford Court about 12:45 a.m. after a report of gunshots. They found 33-year-old Cornelius "Neal" McDonald of Upper Marlboro suffering from gunshot wounds.
McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
“It stings, it stings,” said Rico Scott, McDonald’s cousin. “Because how do you prepare for something like this, for somebody that was so good.”
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McDonald and 35-year-old Terrelle Bailey of Washington, D.C., were customers at the restaurant when they got into an argument before Bailey shot McDonald outside of the restaurant, police said. They did not know each other.
“He wasn't a confrontational type of guy, and you know it’s being said that so much that he was sitting up trying to defuse, you know, the situation,” Scott said.
Bailey is charged with first- and second-degree murder.
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“It helps for the simple fact that Prince George’s County police did a big job in getting an arrest in less than a week,” Scott said. “To know that somebody was arrested, but it doesn't bring Neal back; that pain, that sting is still there.”
McDonald's brother died from gun violence more than five years ago, motivating McDonald to start a nonprofit, Stay Solid, which supports youth and young adults in the region who face mental health challenges.
McDonald shared his story with high schoolers in the community who face similar struggles. He was dedicated to preventing gun violence and showing love to others.
“You’re looking at a mom that’s lost two of her boys, gone due to gun violence,” Scott said. “For this to happen to him, it’s a terrible loss to his mom, to his sister, to his son, to the community."
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 was a "beloved leader," Prince George's County Council member Wala Blegay said in a statement. She said his "dedication to uplifting others has left a lasting legacy."
He attended Largo High School and transferred to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, where he graduated, a former classmate told News4.
McDonald was a dedicated father to his 7-year-old son, his family said.
“It's never good at any point in time, but for this to happen around the holidays, it's even rougher,” Scott said.
McDonald’s grieving family says they will keep his memory alive through his nonprofit.
“Into Stay Solid, to keep doing everything in the community that he was trying to do,” Scott said. “He stood by what he spoke on. If he said it, he meant it. If he said he was going to help you out, he did it.”
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