(Image Credit: IMAGN) California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Newsom, listen to students from New College of Florida on Wednesday during Newsom's stop at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Sarasota on April 5, 2023.
Sacramento, California – In a major push for justice in four unsolved cases across the state, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday a total of $200,000 in rewards — $50,000 for each case — including one tied to the tragic 2021 murder of 22-year-old U.S. Navy sailor Cornelius Donte Brown in La Mesa.
Brown, an active-duty third-class petty officer stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln at Naval Base Coronado, was fatally shot nearly four years ago to the day. On the night of April 24, 2021, Brown was hosting a small gathering at his La Mesa apartment when two masked individuals knocked on the door. When Brown answered, one of them opened fire. Both suspects fled on foot. Despite years of investigation, police have yet to make an arrest.
“My son’s murder will never be behind me. It’s forever in front of me,” said Addrienne Brown, Cornelius’ mother, who lives in South Carolina. “The ones that killed my baby — their moms can touch them, talk to them, hug them. I have to go visit mine at a cemetery.”
Brown, a standout athlete in high school, had dreams of becoming a Navy officer. His mother said he chose to serve his country before college and was proud of his military service.
Now, she hopes the governor’s $50,000 reward will be the key to breaking the silence and finding her son’s killers. “That made me feel pretty good,” Brown said. “Someone is thinking about my child. They care about my child.”
The new reward brings the total for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Brown’s case to $65,000, including contributions from Crime Stoppers, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and his family.
“We are very thankful for the Governor’s support in our efforts to find justice for Mr. Brown and his family,” said La Mesa spokesperson Scott Hildebrand.
Governor Newsom’s rewards also apply to three other unsolved cases in Hillsborough, Lemoore, and Petaluma, where local law enforcement agencies have exhausted all investigative leads. Under California law, agencies can request state-issued rewards in unsolved cases to help spur public cooperation and generate new tips.
Addrienne Brown hopes the attention and financial incentive will finally bring justice. “If we don’t stop this, it could be your child next,” she said.
