A Wake County judge on Thursday sentenced 25-year-old Malik Scott-McClarin to a minimum of 1 year and 4 months and a maximum of 2 years and 5 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of his friend, 23-year-old Cory Edward McNeill. The court credited Scott-McClarin with 73 days already served and ordered substance-abuse and mental-health evaluations while he is incarcerated. The shooting happened during a break at the Fenton shopping district in Cary in December 2024 and drew attention because the two men worked together and were described as best friends. The sentence follows months of investigation and court filings that began with a murder charge.
Judge Reduces Charge, Hands Down Prison Term
Superior Court Judge Douglas Green imposed the sentence after Scott-McClarin pleaded guilty this week to involuntary manslaughter, a reduction from the original murder charge, according to The News & Observer. Court records cited by the paper show the one-year-four-month to two-year-five-month range and the 73 days of pretrial credit. The judge also ordered evaluations for substance abuse and mental-health treatment to take place while Scott-McClarin serves his sentence.
What Investigators Say Happened In The Deck
Police and search warrants show McNeill was found unresponsive in his vehicle on Dec. 20, 2024, in the Green parking deck at Fenton, and Scott-McClarin called police and surrendered at the scene, as reported by ABC11. Warrants say the two men had been on a break, were smoking marijuana and were handling handguns; Scott-McClarin told investigators McNeill “bumped” his handgun just before a shot rang out. Officers also recovered shell casings and firearms from both vehicles, according to the reports.
Letters, Loss And A Community Seeking Answers
Dozens of letters from family and friends were filed with the court on Scott-McClarin’s behalf, with relatives describing instability in his upbringing and urging leniency; one aunt wrote that “his life has been filled with instability and uncertainty,” according to The News & Observer. Friends who knew the men from work and carpooling described them as close, and one wrote, “I knew instantly that it had to be an accident.” At the same time, the victim’s family and the circumstances of his death have left many in the community searching for answers.
Security Firm’s Role And Safety Questions At Fenton
Scott-McClarin worked for Sunstates Security at Fenton, and company officials told reporters the firm provides unarmed services for the development and is cooperating with investigators, per WRAL. Wake County prosecutors have emphasized that claims of accidental discharge are part of the standard investigative review and that any additional charges would depend on the evidence, ABC11 reported. The case has prompted renewed local discussion about off-duty behavior, firearm safety and the policies security contractors use at busy entertainment districts.
