PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Local community leader and activist Cornelius McDonald was shot and killed early Saturday morning, according to Prince George’s County Police Department’s (PGPD) Homicide Unit.
33-year-old McDonald of Upper Marlboro was shot outside of a restaurant at 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 30, according to PGPD.
In a statement, Prince George’s Council Member Wala Blegay said that the shooting happened outside Jasper’s Restaurant in Largo and that McDonald was a Largo High School alum.
McDonald was pronounced dead on the scene.
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Detectives said that they are trying to see if the McDonald and the suspect, an unknown person who fled the scene after the shooting, were involved in an altercation.
McDonald worked as a crisis hotline, a mentor for youth with mental health disorders, and was going to school to become a mental health therapist before the shooting, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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Homicide Unit detectives ask anyone with information to call 301-516-2512.
Below is Council Member Blegay’s full statement:
The tragic shooting outside Jasper’s Restaurant in Largo has deeply shaken our county. We lost a beloved leader, Cornelius Neal McDonald, a longtime community member who attended Largo High School and whose dedication to uplifting others has left a lasting legacy. My heart goes out to his family, friends, the Largo High School community, and all those mourning this senseless act of violence.
I have spoken with law enforcement, and they assured me that their investigation is well underway. I thank them for their diligence in seeking justice for Neal and ensuring accountability.
Gun violence has no place in Prince George’s County. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger safety measures, conflict resolution programs, and partnerships to prevent such incidents. I will work to strengthen policies that promote safety in our community spaces.
Let us come together to honor Neal’s memory by standing united against violence and supporting one another during this difficult time. We can and must build a safer, stronger Prince George’s County.
