Authorities asked for the public's help Wednesday in identifying and locating the suspects responsible for the murder of 22-year-old U.S. Navy sailor Corneilius Donte Brown in 2021.
On April 24, 2021, at about 12:26 a.m., the La Mesa Police Department received several 911 calls of gunshots heard in the area of 4300 Echo Court in La Mesa, according to Officer Mark Herring of the San Diego Police Department.
Officers arrived within four minutes and located a gunshot victim, later identified as Brown, inside the residence at 4306 Echo Court, #A, Herring said.
Brown suffered from multiple gunshots to his upper body and was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he died during surgery, the officer said.
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"According to witnesses who were inside the apartment, Brown was shot when he answered an unexpected knock at the front door," Herring said. "Upon opening the door, Brown encountered two suspects. One of the suspects fired multiple shots at Brown."
The suspects reportedly ran southbound on Echo Court and then eastbound on Echo Drive. Both suspects were described as men wearing ski masks and black hooded sweatshirts.
Brown was an active-duty U.S. Navy Sailor stationed at Naval Base Coronado. He was a third-class petty officer on USS Abraham Lincoln and had been on the ship since 2018.
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The victim's family is offering a $9,000 reward in addition to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers and $5,000 from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Cornelius's family speaks out
NBC 7’s Dave Summers spoke with the victim’s mother about the importance of catching these criminals.
Brown was a standout basketball, football and tennis player in high school where he grew up in Columbia South Carolina.
He delayed college to serve his country. It’s a point of pride for his mother Adrienne Brown-Mills.
Brown was liked by most everyone he met
“The relationship we had was inseparable. I miss Cornelius so so much," his mother said.
By most accounts, Brown was a kind and humble young man. He was liked by most everyone he met.
A case with no obvious clues
Why his life ended so violently that April 24 is still a mystery.
Despite eyewitness accounts and thorough review of the evidence, nearly three years have gone by without a solid lead.
“We’ve never given up. NCIS has never given up. We’re going to continue to work this case because Cornelius’s mother deserves answers," said Lt. Katy Lynch from La Mesa Police Department's Investigations Unit.
Lt. Lynch says this was not a random shooting, but there are no obvious clues.
“What exactly their relationship is, is not yet known. The motive is for this murder is also not known," Lt. Lynch said.
Justice for her son
“There are two people out there that are murderers and need to be captured. They need to be off the streets," Brown-Mills said.
She grieves the loss of her son daily. It’s taken an awful toll on her and the family. She wants an accounting for her son’s death and to keep the his memory alive.
“I would like for everyone to remember my son," she said.
"Happy go lucky great smile fun to be around all around lovable person," Brown-Mills added.
Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-7533 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.
Visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.sdcrimestoppers.org for more information on how to send anonymous web and mobile app tips.
