A Life Rooted in Community

Donovan Troy Cummings, affectionately known as “Plook,” was born on October 16, 1967, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a heavy equipment operator for the City Parish until health issues led him to pursue entrepreneurship. Known for his love of cooking and serving his community, Donovan had a genuine affection for people and was always ready to lend a helping hand .

The Tragic Morning of September 8, 2017

On the morning of September 8, 2017, Donovan Cummings, 49, and his friend Harold Anthony, 36, were working on renovating a flood-damaged home at 2522 Thomas H. Delpit Drive in Baton Rouge. Around 9:45 a.m., a gray or silver Mazda CX-9 SUV pulled up, and multiple individuals exited the vehicle, opening fire on the two men. Harold Anthony died at the scene, while Donovan was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries .

A Neighbor's Fate: The Death of David Walker

Just hours after the double homicide, 68-year-old David Walker, a neighbor who lived next door to the crime scene, was found shot to death in his car on Seneca Street. Walker had been questioned by police earlier that day regarding the murders of Cummings and Anthony. Investigators believe that Walker's murder was connected to the earlier shootings and that he may have been targeted for potential knowledge about the incident .

Unraveling a Web of Violence

The investigation into these murders revealed connections to a violent drug-trafficking organization operating in the area. Authorities described the group as "an extremely violent group of large-scale narcotics traffickers" who employed hitmen to eliminate perceived threats. In October 2018, Terrell Anthony, the brother of Harold Anthony, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of David Walker. Investigators suggested that Terrell believed Walker had witnessed his brother's murder and was withholding information from the police ....Read More