Local man killed on Atlanta visit

Police say the father of five was shot after an argument at a party he attended while visiting relatives.

By AMY WIMMER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 3, 2001

A St. Petersburg father of five was shot and killed while visiting some relatives in Atlanta last week.

Derrick Donnell "Fletch" Fletcher, 33, died Monday after getting into an argument at a party.

Atlanta police suspect a friend of the man Fletcher argued with. The shooting took place about 10:30 p.m. Monday, when a man in his early 20s fatally shot Fletcher in the back.

Locally, Fletcher worked as a foreman at A&M Supply Co. and was a member of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He graduated from Dixie Hollins High School in 1986.

According to reports in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fletcher attended a party at 2021 Bolton Drive NW and argued with a nephew of the apartment owner.

"The nephew left and came back with a buddy; the buddy had a gun and shot Mr. Fletcher in the back," Atlanta police homicide Sgt. Rick Chambers told the newspaper.

After the shooting, the gunman carjacked a Buick Century and ran the car off the road when a police car chased him. The gunman ran away, police said.

Born in St. Petersburg, Fletcher played football for Dixie Hollins High, where the Exchange Club named him the 1985 academic All-City football team offensive guard. He also attended Howard University for a year and graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn., in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in human resources and development.

Fletcher also volunteered as an assistant coach for the St. Petersburg 'Lil Devils youth football association.

His survivors include five children: a son, Julius, of Athens, Tenn.; four daughters, Geneva D. Moat of Atlanta and Derrica D. Fletcher, Destiny L. Fletcher and Angelaca T. Scott, all of St. Petersburg. He also is survived by his mother, Dianne Davis, Atlanta; his father, Jack Fletcher, St. Petersburg; four brothers, John Taylor, Jacksonville, Naji Dennard, Clearwater, Jack Fletcher III, St. Petersburg, and Marcus Wright, Savannah, Ga.; five sisters, Tomeka Hall and Quncellar Jones, both of Atlanta, Lagenia Williams, Danita Dixon and Jennifer Bowens, all of St. Petersburg; his maternal grandmother, Lola Mae Brown, St. Petersburg; and his paternal grandmother, Willie Mae Fletcher, St. Petersburg.

Zion Hill Mortuary in St. Petersburg is in charge of arrangements.

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