Mother of man fatally shot outside North Side rooftop lounge calls slaying 'senseless'

Victim identified as Brandon Jerico Cornelius, 25

SAN ANTONIO – The mother of a man who was fatally shot after he left a far North Side rooftop lounge Saturday morning says her son's death was senseless and inexplicable.

Brandon Jerico Cornelius, 25, was shot multiple times Saturday morning in a parking lot and was later pronounced dead at University Hospital.

According to SAPD, Cornelius and two other people left the Burnhouse Rooftop Lounge in the 4500 block of N. Loop 1604 around 1:30 a.m. and got into their vehicle.

Police said two thin black males approached the vehicle with handguns. The men opened the front passenger door where Cornelius was sitting and both fired multiple shots at Cornelius before they fled the scene, police said.

“He was going out to a place he had been several times before with no indication that there was any problems, no history of disagreement with anyone, then he was gone,” said Jeanelle Cornelius.

Jeanelle Cornelius said Brandon was caring, unselfish and having worked with Army National Guard, was always dedicated.

She said Brandon had dinner with the family hours before the shooting.

Officers interviewed witnesses at the scene, but the gunmen remain at-large, according to SAPD’s preliminary report. Police have not released a motive in the case.

"Whoever did this, it seemed like they killed my son on the street for absolutely no reason,” Cornelius said. “If they did it to mine, they're going to do it to somebody else."


About the Authors:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.

Stephanie Serna is a weekday anchor on Good Morning San Antonio and GMSA at 9 a.m. She joined the KSAT 12 News team in November 2009 as a general assignments reporter.