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‘A family man’: Community holds vigil for entertainment promoter killed in Casselberry shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. — Casselberry police have identified the victim in an apartment complex shooting.

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Police said the man, Dereck Cummings, 31, was found shot to death early Saturday morning on Caper Lane, near the Carrington Park Condominiums.

Cummings’ mother Tuwanan Ware described him as the life of the party and the guy who wanted to be the center of attention.

The vigil on Sunday was a testament to that fact, as dozens of people gathered around candles and photos to celebrate his life.

Photos: Community holds vigil for entertainment promoter killed in Casselberry shooting

As candles flickered and people gathered in an Orlando parking lot, their words, emotions and hearts were focused on a young man they lost too soon.

“We’re trying to do as best as we can under the circumstances,” Ware said.

Read: Casselberry police identify victim in Saturday shooting

Police were called to the Carrington Park condos just off Howell Branch Road around 5:30 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Cummings lying on the ground.

Cummings was better known in the community as local rapper Antwaun Miles. Channel 9 interviewed Cummings in 2016, and he spoke out against violence in the community after the death of two of his friends.

Read: ‘It’s a war going on in Orlando’ says rapper hoping to spark change after uptick in crime

His social media accounts also show he shifted to being an entertainment promoter for parties and other events in recent years.

Neighbors said Cummings was a quiet guy who lived with his girlfriend. Ware said Cummings was a father of four, three boys and a girl, with another baby boy on the way.

Neighbors like Brian Burton said they were angry to hear that he was shot to death.

Read: Casselberry police investigate deadly Saturday morning shooting

“They have to stop violence, man,” Burton said. “It’s uncalled for; he’s a family man. Our prayers go out to his family and friends and everybody. Antwaun was a good man.”

Ware told Channel 9 the family is focusing on the good times but she knows there will be a hole in their lives, especially for the children.

Cummings’ friends and family are now hoping the police will find out who took his life and why they did it.

Police believe this shooting was a dispute between two known people, but they have not said what the disagreement was or if there are any suspects.

“They took away the fun-loving protector, goofy father (and) son,” Ware said. “This one really hurt the community.”

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

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