Fayetteville councilwoman wants to ensure daughter's accidental gun death doesn't go in vain

Inside the home of Fayetteville city councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, there are pictures of a young life taken too soon.

Coryonna Young was 15-years old when her mother said she was accidentally shot and killed in October.

Banks-McLaughlin sat down with WRAL Fayetteville Reporter Gilbert Baez and reflected on her daughter's life and tragic death. Since October, she told WRAL News at some point she wanted to talk about what happened so something like this doesn't happen to any other parent.

Sunday was the first Mother's Day for Banks-McLaughlin without her daughter. She said the 15-year-old was accidentally shot Oct. 21.

"I'm taking every second at a time." she said.

She's still devastated from the loss, knowing how preventable it was.

"Senseless ... kids being reckless ... playing with guns," said Banks-McLaughlin.

Banks-McLaughlin said her daughter's death has left a hole in a very tight-knit family.

"It's very difficult for them because they're still processing it," Banks-McLaughlin said. "They miss their sister. As a mother, it's different. Home is quiet. I'm not used to the quietness. I'm used to all of my children being in the home together."

Especially Coryonna. Her mother said she had a wonderful spirit and a personality that was bigger than life. She was in 10th grade and an Air Force JROTC Cadet at Seventy-First High School and wanted to become a pilot.

Governor Roy Cooper recently appointed Banks-McLaughlin to the State's Crime Commission. She said her daughter's death will bring passion to her service on that panel.

Because the young man involved is a juvenile, no information is being released about him. The case is being processed through the juvenile court system.

"For me, I look at it like God is using her, for a purpose, for a reason," Banks-McLaughlin said. "Her death is not going to go in vain."

The teenager accused in the shooting has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a handgun by a minor.