The mayor of Falls Church on Monday called upon the Fairfax County prosecutor’s office to explain whether it will bring charges in a 2005 shooting death in which a civil jury recently found sufficient evidence to award a multi million-dollar wrongful death settlement.

Mayor Robin Gardner asked for an update on the case in May on behalf of the family of Jack “Steven” Cornejo, a 23-year-old killed during an altercation outside a Fair Oaks apartment.

A grand jury originally opted not to indict Brandon Gotwalt, finding that he shot Cornejo in self-defense.

But Cornejo’s family in May was awarded $2 million in a civil trial that featured new testimony from an eyewitness that contradicted earlier evidence.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Gardner complained of being ignored in her efforts to extract an update from prosecutors, and worried the case hasn’t been given “the attention it deserves.” She sent Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald Connolly an e-mail last week requesting information.

“I’m not saying anyone is guilty or not guilty, I’m just saying the process needs to be carried through,” she said. “There needs to be some communication from the commonwealth’s attorney’s office.”

Robert Horan, who headed the office when the death occurred, has retired. His chief deputy, Raymond Morrogh, could not be reached for comment on Monday. Nor could Gotwalt’s attorney, John A. Keats.

“What we’re talking about is an ongoing case that has been around for some time now since the civil jury made a decision. ... It should be very easy to make a charging decision, there is not reason why he hasn’t come forward with one,” said Patrick McDade, Morrogh’s Republican opponent in this year’s race for commonwealth’s attorney and an Arlington county prosecutor.

wflook@dcexaminer.com