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Suspect sought in fatal shooting
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published April 20, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Police on Wednesday identified a suspect in the shooting death of a St. Petersburg man last week.
Orthia Porter, 26, shot Antonio Cummings, 24, with a handgun after Cummings tried to flee in a car following an argument, police said. One of the bullets lodged in the car seat of an 11-month-old boy who was sitting next to Cummings. The baby was unhurt.
"We are actively looking for the suspect," said Sgt. Michael Puetz, the head of the St. Petersburg Police Department's homicide unit.
Puetz declined to give details about what Cummings and Porter were arguing about.
Both men have lengthy criminal records. On Friday night, Cummings went to visit friends at 982 23rd Ave. S. While he was there, he got into an argument with Porter. Porter pulled out a handgun, and Cummings ran outside and got into the back of a car driven by his 20-year-old girlfriend.
Porter walked up to the car and fired several times at Cummings while his girlfriend tried to drive away, police said. As Cummings was bleeding, his girlfriend drove him to Bayfront Medical Center. He was taken to the emergency room and pronounced dead on arrival.
The police say Porter has a mustache and goatee, and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with writing on the front and jeans.
Anyone with information should call the police at (727) 893-7780.
Times researchers Caryn Baird and Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.
[Last modified April 20, 2006, 01:48:15]
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