On Monday evening, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an apartment at 7017 San Ramon Place. When they arrived, they found Dametrius Edwards, 43, dead from a gunshot wound to the upper body.

According to reports, Edwards was found in his bedroom by his mother, Cynthia Felton, who became concerned when she was unable to reach him by phone for three days.

During their initial investigation, deputies discovered that Edwards’s truck, a 2005 Nissan pickup truck, was missing. Later that night acting on a tip, deputies found the truck parked outside an apartment on Banyan Bluff Drive.

Inside the truck, deputies found 22-year-old Demetrius Edwards, Jr. hiding. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for burglary, grand theft and violation of a domestic violence injunction. He is being held without bond on those charges as the investigation into his father’s death continues.

According to City of Tampa Human Resources Director, Kim Crum, Edwards, Sr. had been a lifeguard with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department since 1986. He came on as a regular employee in March 1994, and was an Aquatic Leader 4 Senior Life Guard at Cyrus Greene Pool.

CaShondra Edwards said her brother was an all-around nice guy who really loved helping others.

“Dametrius, Jr. was his only child. Before he reached his teenage years, he spent all of his time with us. We have tons of photos of he and his dad doing all kinds of activities together.

“As he got older, he spent more time with his mother.” CaShondra said because their father wasn’t around when they were growing up, her brother wanted to make sure he was always there for his son.

“When Dametrius Jr.’s mom kicked him out, he moved in with his dad. My brother always had forgiveness for the mistakes his son made, and tried to steer him in the right direction.”

Julio Barrera, a Team Supervisor at Cyrus Greene, said he’s known Edwards since they were 7 years old and played baseball together with the Bayshore Little League.

“We became friends as little kids, and actually started working together with the city. We were both park kids, and got summer jobs in aquatics at Cyrus Greene.

“Our roles took different paths later, but we remained friends, and talked all the time.”

Barrera said as a kid, Edwards, Sr. was a great athlete, and excelled in all sports.

“He attended King High School and I was at Plant. I’m two years older, but I remember at the age of 7, he was knocking homeruns over the wall. He was a true God-fearing man who loved his friends.

“Working in East Tampa meant we had to assume the position of being role models, and he really loved it, and the kids related to him very well. On Tuesday, they were asking where he was, because they really looked forward to being round him.”

Barrera said Edwards was also a role model to his family, that included three sisters, his mother, and his son, Dametrius, Jr.

“I remember his mother coming to the aquatic center several times to be with her son, and he was the provider for the family.

“I did meet his son, and he was a good kid. Dametrius was lost for words when he was born, and he actually grew up around the pool with his dad. His son was the love of his life.”

Barrera said as is the case with most children, when Dametrius, Jr. got older, he got his own place, and went his own way with his life.

“We didn’t see as much of Dametrius, Jr. after he became an adult.

“I do know that when his son started having problems, he moved him in with him to help in any way he could. That’s the kind of person he was. He wanted to make sure all the kids had a future.”

Barrera said Dametrius, Sr. is a young man that will be missed by co-workers and a lot of kids who looked up to him.

Aiken’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.