Missing puzzle piece: Lubbock police seek tips 1 year after child's drive-by shooting death
On the last day of the semester before Christmas break, 4-year-old Cornelius Carrington went about his daily routine of going to school, doing homework and playing with his friends.
But he wouldn't get a chance to celebrate the holiday with his family.
At 8:51 p.m. that day - Dec. 17, 2021 - a drive-by shooter took his life from him and his family.
A year later, the Lubbock Police Department is asking the community once again to step forward with any information about the shooter or the case. And Carrington's family and loved ones are hosting a vigil and walk at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to help call attention to the case.
Lubbock police seek information
During a news conference this week, Lubbock police Lt. Marc Wall said the department is dedicated to this case, with two investigators assigned to the case being briefed weekly, as well as seven investigators in the Metro Unit who are also assisting.
"If you have ever put a puzzle together and you may have been the one to hold the last piece out because you wanted to finish the puzzle - so you have a puzzle with a blank spot, right? We need that last piece of the puzzle to really put all of this information together," Wall said.
LPD has received a lot of information about the case from the community, he said, but they can only do so much with what is called third-party information.
They need someone with first-hand knowledge to step forward with the missing information so the investigation can move forward.
"I truly believe that there's somebody within our community that is going to the same grocery stores that we're going to, that may attend the same community events that may take place within the community - they know what happened. They know the specific people involved, and they know exactly what happened," Wall said.
A $15,000 award is still available for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.
The public is asked to call Crime Line at 806-741-1000 and can choose to remain anonymous.
Facts of the case
As of right now, the information LPD can release about the case is that it occurred at 706 East Ursuline St. at 8:51 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.
Wall said that a white or light-colored SUV, similar to that of a small Lexus vehicle, is believed to be the vehicle from which the shots came.
From all of the facts and evidence, Wall said it looks like a case of retaliation after a fight occurred between two adults and that Carrington's death was an unintended consequence of the fight.
"Cornelius was living his life," Wall said. "He was at this house, visiting his dad, playing with friends doing what 4-year-old boys do and some coward drove by and randomly fired several rounds from a gun. And one of the rounds struck Cornelius and took his life."
About Cornelius
Cornelius loved school, loved Spider Man and had a big heart.
Wall said on that day, Cornelius woke up to get ready for school at 7 a.m. and was dropped off at 7:45 a.m.
"Because he had started attending school, he was able to eat breakfast at school, and so he didn't want to eat breakfast at home. He wanted to go to school and eat breakfast there at Rise Academy," Wall said.
His great-grandmother, Wanda Benson, had packed him a big lunch just like she did every day.
Wanda said it was a running joke that she would pack him so much food it could feed his entire class.
Cornelius came home and went to do his homework, Wanda said. Afterward, he went outside to play on the trampoline with his cousins.
Cornelius' father came over to Wanda's house asking to visit his son. Wanda said no at first.
"He kept telling me - Granny, you should let me go, I need to go," Wanda said.
She finally let him go visit with his father. Two hours later, Wanda received a phone call informing her that Cornelius was shot.
Wanda said he was a big part of her life and showed her the love only he could have shown her.
Cornelius' aunt, Natasha Carrington, and grandmother, Tiffany Carrington, say his spirit still lives on with them.
The family is hosting a walk at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at 19th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that will end at Rise Academy. The event is designed to honor of Cornelius while also urging anyone with information to come forward so the family can have justice and a sense of closure.
"We just need peace," Tiffany said. "In the name of Jesus and the Lord of the heavens above, help us find that one puzzle piece that we're asking for."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock police seek tips death investigation of Cornelius Carrington
