Members of the Prince George鈥檚 County community gathered in the parking lot of the Staples on Campus Way South in Largo, Maryland, on Saturday to honor the memory of a community activist who was killed last month.
Cornelius McDonald, 33, was killed on Nov. 30 outside Jasper鈥檚 Restaurant in the Lake Arbor section of Prince George’s County.
On Tuesday, Terrelle Bailey, 35, of Northwest D.C., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder among other charges in the shooting that killed McDonald.
鈥淗e was held without bond, per the request of the state 鈥� and we believe that is the appropriate action thus far,鈥� said State鈥檚 Attorney for Prince George鈥檚 County Aisha Braveboy, who spoke to 草莓传媒 before the vigil.
Braveboy said the death of McDonald was a loss for the whole community.
鈥淭his was someone who absolutely cared about his community. He is who we want our children to be and, unfortunately, he was killed at Jasper’s, and it was senseless,” she said. “There was no reason for him not to be here, not to continue the work that he was doing. So we’re all in mourning. His family is grieving. The community is grieving.鈥�
The vigil was a joint effort between the Largo Civic Association, Largo Town Center Association, Prince George鈥檚 County Police, Prince George鈥檚 County Council member Wala Blegay, and the nonprofit which McDonald founded after his brother died from gun violence five years ago.
in the area who are dealing with mental health challenges.
Rande Atcherson from the Largo Town Center Association explained to 草莓传媒 why the groups came together to host this event.
鈥淣eal was a brother, he was a pillar of our community, he was active, he touched the lives of so many young people,” said Atcherson. “He was the light, and we lost the light. We have to pick up the light and carry the torch.鈥�
The parking lot at the event was crowded not only with community members, McDonald鈥檚 friends and family, but also children that knew Cornelius McDonald as “coach Neal.”
“Neil was our family. He was one of our coaches,鈥� said Jacqlene Banks, whose 7-year-old son Carter was coached by McDonald for the Southern Maryland Youth Flag Football League. 鈥淗e was our sons鈥� mentor. His son was some of our son’s best friends,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y son lost his father at three, so Neil really stepped up and really was there for my son.鈥�
As Banks spoke, tears ran down her face and her 7-year-old son Carter wiped them from her cheek.
He shared his own memories about Coach Neal.
鈥淗e practiced with us and helped us,鈥� said Carter. As the young man kept talking, he choked back tears, saying, 鈥渉e used to call us superstars and teach us what a good player and a superstar is.鈥�
Carter’s teammate Kaiden was also there and spoke of the ways Coach Neal helped him be a better player 鈥� and a better person.
鈥淗e helped me be good at defense and pull a lot of flags 鈥� how to control my temper and how to have a better attitude,鈥� said Kaiden.
During the vigil, McDonald鈥檚 Mom, Maria Butler, spoke to those who had come to honor her son鈥檚 memory.
鈥淚 would like to say thank you to everyone who came out. My son made a tremendous impact on the community, and your presence and all the social media output that I’ve received over the week has been so, so impactful to me,” Butler said.
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