Daughter of Murder Victim Speaking Out
A murder victim’s daughter is devastated and desperate for answers. An anguished April Hiller says, “I’m asking for anyone’s help who knows who killed my dad. Please, I’m begging you. My family needs closure.” Hiller stood with her family at a place that was her father’s livelihood. 63 year old Gerald McDaniel sold t-shirts, shoes, and other merchandise across the street from Saint John Baptist Church near the intersection of Farrow Road and West Beltline Boulevard. McDaniel’s family believes someone followed him from his workplace to the U-store storage facility on Two Notch Road, where he was shot and killed June 19, 3 days before his 64th birthday and one day before Fathers Day. McDaniel’s aunt, Diana Taylor, says, “We believe Gerald knew the person that killed him.” Taylor says her nephew made a nightly trek to the storage facility to put up his merchandise. The family believes someone who knew his routine followed him to the U-store late Friday night, June 18, to rob him. The Columbia Police Department says something was taken from McDaniel, but a spokesman would not say what. Hiller says, “He was so loving and caring. I don’t understand why somebody would do this to him.”
Police say they have no leads except for surveillance video of the suspect’s vehicle, a 2001-2005, light-colored, four-door Chevy Impala. Police also have an enhanced shot of the murder suspect’s face. Investigators say the man who killed McDaniel also had an accomplice who drove the getaway car.
McDaniel’s daughter says her dad was a mentor to young kids in the M.L.K. community. Hiller says, “We are begging and pleading as his family to catch this murderer who did this to him. I hope that you get no sleep, and you know that God is watching you, and you need to turn yourself in.”
Investigators say the video of the suspect’s car was captured right after McDaniel’s car was seen pulling into the U-store. If you have any information that can help investigators, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
To see the video and to hear from McDaniel’s family, click on the video player below.
