A man from Washington, D.C., was convicted on Wednesday for the murder of an anti-gun violence activist outside a restaurant in Largo, Maryland, in November 2024.
According to prosecutors, 37-year-old Terrelle Bailey was found guilty of second-degree murder as well as using a firearm in the commission of a felony in the tragic shooting death of Neil McDonald.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on November 30, 2024, following an altercation related to a woman inside Jasper’s restaurant. Prosecutors explained that security personnel ejected Bailey, McDonald, and several others from the establishment. After leaving, Bailey shot McDonald five times in the restaurant’s parking lot, resulting in his death.
“For his mother and father, along with his family and friends, this loss is beyond comprehension. No parent should ever have to bury a child, let alone two, due to gun violence,” stated Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson during a news conference. “Today’s verdict does not restore Neil or alleviate the sorrow that his family has faced, but it does ensure that the individual responsible for his death is held accountable.”
Neil McDonald was the founder of Stay Solid, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing youth mental health issues and combating gun violence.
He established the organization after experiencing the tragic loss of his brother to gun violence five years prior to his own death.
“The past almost two years have been incredibly tough, especially when explaining to my grandson why his father was such a loving person,” expressed Maria Butler, McDonald’s mother. “It has been extremely challenging, and I am thankful to everyone in our support system.
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Despite a decrease in crime rates in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Jackson emphasized that there remains an alarming number of illegal firearms on the streets.
“I want to continue to caution those who carry illegal firearms, those contemplating doing so, and anyone who will listen that guns kill,” she remarked. “Guns are not providing you safety. Instead, they can lead to your demise or lengthy prison sentences.”
Jackson announced that they would seek the maximum sentence for Bailey during his upcoming hearing scheduled for December 2.
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