CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- It's been more than a year since a local high school senior was shot and killed feet from his home, just weeks from graduation.
Matthew McDaniel, age 18, was shot to death at point blank range about 100 yards from his front door over Mother’s Day weekend 2013.
He was less than a month from graduating from Meadowbrook High School.
Matthew’s killer remains on the loose, and now there is a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Johnny McDaniel, drives up from Florida every three or four months, hoping to find out who shot his son. He says he's not going to stop driving up until he gets answers.
McDaniel is now soliciting help from Senator Mark Warner (D - Virginia) hoping the senator can take his painful message to Capitol Hill.
"I want to bring awareness to gun control, I do not know who murdered my son or why? I am a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment,” McDaniel said. “We can still pass responsible legislation without infringing on gun owners’ rights."
"I just want to hug him and tell him I love him one more time,” he said. "I’m not going to let this go away."
He says the road trips will end once his son’s killer is caught and convicted.
"I don't get to share anything with my son no more and I want the person who did this to pay," he said.
Johnny McDaniel says fighting his feelings of anger and outrage is a constant struggle, adding his son didn't have enemies, wasn't a troublemaker and didn't deserve to die.
A sympathetic Senator Warner hopes the community can help.
"I can't imagine losing a child to any kind of violence,” Sen. Warner said. “My heart goes out to him and there's certainly more we can do at a community level."
Chesterfield detectives said they don't have any new leads.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 894-748-0660.
