Sister describes her last moment with Carver High grad before he was killed

Antoinette Luckett laughed as she spoke about the phone conversation she had with her brother hours before he was shot and killed late Friday on Farr Road.

“We were arguing because he wanted me to send him some money to buy some shoes,” said Luckett, 27. “This was an every two-day thing, because he would always want some money for some clothes and shoes.”

Luckett had no idea it would be the last time she would speak with 18-year-old Richard Vaughn Cummings Jr., her best friend and only sibling.

Hours later, Cummings was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the chest around 11 p.m. Friday in the front passenger seat of a car at 909 Farr Road. He was pronounced dead 57 minutes later at Midtown Medical Center.

Luckett was in Austin, Texas, when her father called her the following morning to break the news. She said that moment was a blur, because she was in shock.

“Instantly my heart dropped because of the time my dad called me,” she said. “When I got that call, I already knew this phone call can’t be good.”

Cummings was a linebacker at Carver High School who graduated in May. He was one of 12 players from the school to sign National Letters of Intent to play college football.

He planned on attending Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he would major in business and continue his football career. He had dreams of joining the NFL.

“He was a beast on the football field,” Luckett said. “He was one of the best to come out of Columbus if you ask me, as far as the linebacker position.”

Luckett said her family has received a lot of support from people in the community since her brother’s death. For her, visiting his bedroom and looking through their text messages helps her deal with the pain.

Columbus police have not named any suspects in Cummings’ death, but the coroner said a preliminary investigation indicates that the shot was fired from the back seat of the car. The family is hoping officials will be able to gather enough evidence to lead them to all possible arrests and convictions.

“I don’t want my brother to be gone and nothing to happen with it, so I really hope the guys do their job and get us some information that will help us,” Luckett said.

Aside from seeking justice, Luckett is focused on making sure her brother’s legacy lives forever. She wants the public to remember him for his loving and silly personality, as well as his ambition and passion.

“Life is short, so I want the guys to look at this as their wake up call to keep driving and keep pushing forward,” she said. “Never give up.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2017 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Sister describes her last moment with Carver High grad before he was killed."