A Tragic Loss Just Days After Welcoming a Newborn
In DeKalb County, Georgia, a young father’s life was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence, leaving his family and community shattered. Derek Cummings, a 32-year-old man with a heart full of love for his children, was working outside a daycare on Columbia Drive on July 18 when his life changed forever. Just days after celebrating the birth of his newest son — his third child — Derek’s hopes for a bright future were brutally taken away. His family recounts a heartbreaking story of a man simply trying to make an honest living, supporting his kids, and providing for his family. Instead, he became the victim of a violent crime over something as trivial as lawn equipment.
The grief-stricken family describes Derek as a hardworking, caring father who only wanted to see his children thrive. On that fateful day, someone pulled up and stole lawn tools from the back of his truck. When Derek attempted to chase after the thief, shots rang out just up the road outside DeKalb County Fire Station 7. Despite immediate efforts to save him, Derek succumbed to his injuries at Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta. His family’s pain is compounded by the fact that no arrests have been made, and the shooter remains at large. His mother, Sharon Jennings, is desperately pleading for justice, asking the community to help find those responsible for ending her son’s promising life.
A Heartbroken Family Seeks Justice and Closure
Derek’s family is devastated and demanding answers. They describe him as a dedicated father who was just beginning to enjoy the joys of fatherhood again. His youngest child, a boy, was born only a week before the shooting. The family is haunted by the thought that Derek’s life was taken over such a petty crime — lawn equipment, stolen from a man working to provide for his children. His mother, Sharon Jennings, tearfully shared, “My son—my baby, my heart—was taken from me in the most senseless, heartbreaking way. His partner and his newborn son, along with his other children, are left to mourn a man who was trying to do right by his family.”
The family’s grief is compounded by the fact that they had no idea anything was wrong until they received a call from the hospital. They had no warning, no indication that Derek had been involved in a shooting until emergency services called to inform them of his critical condition. Their anguish is amplified by the lack of progress in the investigation, as police have yet to identify or apprehend the suspect. The family has also launched an online fundraiser to help with funeral expenses, hoping that public awareness will help bring justice to Derek and closure to his loved ones.
