Russell Barlow was halfway between his girlfriend's house and his mom's when he dropped to the ground yesterday in a South Side parking lot. Barlow, 40, had been shot about 8 a.m. near 1472 S. Champion Ave. after an argument, family and Columbus police said. Who he was fighting with, they don't know.

Russell Barlow was halfway between his girlfriend�s house and his mom�s when he dropped to the ground yesterday in a South Side parking lot.

Barlow, 40, had been shot about 8 a.m. near 1472 S. Champion Ave. after an argument, family and Columbus police said. Who he was fighting with, they don�t know.

His mother, LaVenus Drake, lives just on the other side of the lot, on Oakwood Avenue. From her front lawn, she could see her son�s body.

�This is what I got to deal with every day now,� Drake said, looking at her son. �From now on, that my son was killed right there. I know that he was walking trying to get to me. I know he was."

Columbus police homicide detectives aren�t sure exactly where Barlow was when he was shot, but they found blood and shell casings behind the S. Champion Avenue house where Barlow�s girlfriend, Latoya Cheatham, 34, lives with her parents.

Joseph Johnson, Cheatham�s dad, said his daughter and Barlow got along fine. He can�t see her having anything to do with how he died.

�They had their ups and downs,� he said, �but nothing like this.�

The couple has a 7-month-old girl together, Drake said. Barlow was watching the baby on Saturday night and brought her to his mom�s house around 10:30 p.m. He chatted for a bit and left about a half hour later, she said.

The next time Drake saw her son, his body was covered with a sheet.

Dozens of people gathered at Frebis and Oakwood avenues for a vigil over Barlow�s body. Most were family members who live throughout the neighborhood where Barlow was raised.

Men hugged and wiped tears on each others� shoulders as young nieces and nephews played on the corner. One of those men was Russell Barlow Sr., Barlow�s dad.

Father and son had a beer together not long ago, he said, and Barlow bragged about his newest daughter to his dad. He had five older sons and daughters and two grandchildren.

�My boy is gone,� the elder Barlow said through tears. �This is a dream. It�s got to be a dream."

amanning@dispatch.com

@allymanning