In a renewed effort to solve a cold case that has lingered in the community's memory, the La Mesa Police Department, together with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), has publicized a substantial reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the individuals responsible for the murder of Navy Sailor Corneilius Donte Brown, the La Mesa Police Department shared in a social media post.
It has been four years since that fateful day on April 24, 2021, when at about 12:26 AM, a series of panicked 9-1-1 calls were made reporting gunshots at 4300 Echo Court, La Mesa, the officers responding found Brown critically injured in his home, and despite being rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital, Brown's life slipped away as he succumbed to gunshot wounds. Inside the apartment at the time of the shooting were several of Brown's shipmates who witnessed his tragic death as it unfolded moments after an unexpected knock at the door, when Brown answered, two masked men, described as Black males in ski masks and black hooded sweatshirts, shot him and subsequently fled the scene.
In response to this unsolved tragedy, Governor Gavin Newsom has recently committed an additional $50,000 from the State of California, bolstering the existing reward fund that includes contributions from Brown's family, NCIS, and San Diego Crime Stoppers, bringing the total reward to a significant $65,000 for any information that can bring closure to this case.
The La Mesa Police Department is reaching out to the community in hopes that this increased reward might coax someone into coming forward with any piece of knowledge, no matter how small it may seem. Detective Royce Culp, who can be contacted at 619-667-7533, stands ready to follow up on all leads.
