Rep. Donald McEachin passes away at 61 after battle with colorectal cancer

NEWS AT 11 STARTS WITH THE BREAKING NEWS ALERT. >> THAT BREAKING NEWS IS COMING OUT OF RICHMOND TONIGHT WHERE? CONGRESSMAN DONALD MCEACHIN HAS DIED. I’M CANDACE TURNED AND I’M LELAND PENDER. CRIME INSIDER SOURCES TELL US THE 61 YEAR-OLD DIED IN HIS RICHMOND HOME JUST HOURS AGO FOLLOWING A LONG ILLNESS. CONGRESSMAN MCEACHIN WAS FIRST ELECTED TO REPRESENT VIRGINIA’S 4TH DISTRICT IN 2016. HE WAS JUST REELECTED FOR A 3RD TERM 3 WEEKS AGO. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS. THE KITCHEN WAS A LEGISLATOR BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE BEING ELECTED

TO CONGRESS. HE WAS OUTSPOKEN FOR EQUALITY, CURBING GUN VIOLENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. MCEACHIN IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, RICHMOND, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY, COLLETTE MCEACHIN AND THEIR 3 CHILDREN. >> MCEACHIN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER IN 2013 AND BEAT THE DISEASE. BUT HIS OFFICE SAYS HE LOST HIS FIGHT AGAINST THE SECONDARY EFFECTS OF THE CANCER. EARLIER THIS MONTH, OUR CAMERAS WERE ROLLING WHEN HE MADE PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT THE MOVIE LAND BOW TIE CINEMAS DURING THE PREMIERE. A BLACK PANTHER WAKANDA FOREVER. THERE HE SHARED HIS HEALTH BATTLE AND URGED PEOPLE TO GET REGULAR CANCER SCREENINGS. >> CAN’T STRESS

TO YOU THE IMPORTANCE REALLY IN TOUCH. I KNOW MANY OF YOU WILL AND WATCH MY JOURNEY AND UNDERSTAND THAT HAVE ANY HEALTH ISSUES. NEARLY SINGLE ONE OF HEALTH ISSUES IS RELATED TO BE THE ACE. TO DEAL WITH. KIDS. >>

RIGHT NOW THE FAMILY IS ASKING FOR PRIVACY. THEY DO PLAN TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE CAJUNS OFFICE ANNOUNCED IT WILL REMAIN OPEN AND SERVE CONSTITUENTS UNTIL A NEW REPRESENTATIVE IS ELECTED. AGAIN. WE ARE WORKING TO LEARN MORE INFORMAT