Before he was gunned down, Demetrius Robinson marched in Manatee County anti-violence rally

MANATEE -- Demetrius Robinson was one of three people shot to death in Manatee County on the first day of 2016.

But just days before his death, Robinson marched for a short time along with his friend, community leader Wayne Washington, and others who took part in an anti-gun violence rally that marched right by Robinson's house near Pride Park on Dec. 27, 2015.

Stunned by the tragic coincidence of his friend actually joining the march and then becoming a shooting victim himself on the same protest route, Washington dedicated a second anti-violence rally which started Sunday in the 1000 block of 33rd Avenue East to Robinson.

Unfazed by cold rain, the marchers, some holding posters, continued along Ninth Street East and went up and down neighborhood streets.

Although no arrests have been made in the New Year's Day deaths of Robinson, 37, his girlfriend, Florence Randall, 31, or Julio Tellez, 26, there is a person of interest in the Tellez case, lead detective Ray Mass said this weekend.

The sheriff's office was represented at Sunday's rally with about a half dozen personnel who marched alongside the citizens and even yelled out their chant of, "Stop the violence. Stop the shooting. Stop the killing."

"I think it restores a sense of peace and reassurance to the community that law enforcement and the community are working together," said Capt. Rick Gerken of the sheriff's office who was on the streets with the marchers.

Sunday's rally started out with about 10 marchers but, like Robinson did on Dec. 27, people walked out of their homes and joined the marchers, swelling the crowd to about 20.

"Demetrius joined the march on Dec. 27 just off 61st Avenue East in Oneco right in front of the house he got murdered in," Washington said as he walked in the rain with his fellow marchers.

"Demetrius and Florence came out and hugged me," Washington added. "They even recorded it. He walked with me a couple of steps. My lady friend later said, 'Wow, that dude he was encouraging,' Demetrius was so happy that we were brave enough to do that. Now, for him to lose his life, I tell you, we will not stop. We will continue to rally for what is right."

Washington said that he and Robinson grew up together.

"He went to Bayshore High and I went to Southeast High and we worked at Waste Management together," Washington said of Robinson. "My granddaddy took care of him. We are encouraging every person to come together on this issue of violence. People feel, 'It's not my business.' Well, you can't be that way because the people doing the killing, who is to say they may not just kill you? Why should we live like this?"

Rally begins where McCants was killed

Sunday's rally started where 27-year-old Kevin McCants was gunned down on Dec. 19.

McCants was shot to death when four men drove up in a black Toyota Camry to a residence in the 1000 block of 33rd Avenue East, called him over and shot him.

Laying next to a storm drain, McCants tried to talk to his mother, Debra Williams, who held him in her arms. Williams said her son couldn't get the words out to speak his last. She pointed to the drain in the road where her son died.

"He was brutally killed," Williams said. "He had so many gunshot wounds in his chest he could hardly talk. He tried. Can you imagine my son who I gave birth to dying in my arms?"

Williams said she joined the rally Sunday because she is taking a stand.

"I'm going to stay on my knees and on my feet until all the murders that have taken place since my son died Dec. 19 are resolved," Williams said. "We need everyone to join in because it could be your son, grandson or granddaughter. Stand up for your community. Join in with us and fight for what is right. Officers can't do anything if you do the right thing."

"I want people to come out and speak up," Williams added. "You don't have to put your name in. Just call. This is all of our community, all the way from Oneco to Palmetto. We are all in this together."

Marcher Jennifer Elliott said she came to the latest rally to help raise awareness in the community that people in Manatee County need to protect each other rather than harm each other.

"Nothing is worth hurting each other over, especially when it comes to losing a life," Elliott said.

Those at the rally were "marching against gun violence," said community leader Angela Willett who was holding an umbrella. "We're marching against shootings, against murders, against gang violence. It needs to stop."

"The answer to all of this is loving each other," Washington said.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.

This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 8:32 PM with the headline "Before he was gunned down, Demetrius Robinson marched in Manatee County anti-violence rally ."