The La Mesa Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are asking for the public’s help with tracking down two suspects in the murder of 22-year-old Navy sailor Corneilius Donte Brown, which happened four years ago Thursday.
“According to witnesses who were inside the apartment, Brown was shot when he answered an unexpected knock at the front door,” a flyer from NCIS said.
“Upon opening the door, Brown encountered two suspects. One of the suspects fired multiple shots at Brown.”
On April 24, 2021, at 12:26 a.m., officers received several reports of gunshots heard in the area of 4300 Echo Ct. in La Mesa.
The suspects were described as Black men wearing ski masks and black- hooded sweatshirts, police said.
Witnesses told law enforcement that the suspects ran southbound on Echo Ct. and then eastbound on Echo Drive.
First responders located a gunshot victim, later identified as Brown, inside his residence. He was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently pledged $50,000 reward from the state for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Brown’s murderer in addition to $9,000 from the victim’s family, $5,000 from NCIS, and $1,000 from San Diego Crime Stoppers, bringing the total reward of $65,000.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting of Corneilius Donte Brown to call La Mesa Police Det. Royce Culp at (619) 667-7533.
City News Service contributed to this report.
