“My demons won today. I'm sorry,” the activist posted to Facebook just hours before his body was discovered.
He also sent out a Tweet which read, “let the record show that I pissed on the state house before I left.
McCarrel had been a passionate advocate for social justice and bettering the community. He founded a youth mentorship program called Pursuing Our Dreams, as well as Feed the Streets, a project to help the homeless in his area. He had also organized protests in Ohio in solidarity with Ferguson, Missouri following the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, and attended the NAACP Image Awards on Friday.
Earlier this year, he was also named one of Radio One’s Hometown Champions for his dedication to community activism and overcoming his own struggles. He spent several months homeless after he graduated high school — and the experience left him wanting to help others in a similar situation.
"He is selfless and willing give his last in order to make sure others don't go without,” read a nomination page for the Hometown Champions Award.
“MarShawn has come so far in life and has inspired so many people to help others”
