Crowd gathers at vigil for Winnipeg dad killed in Father's Day slaying

As raindrops fell so did the tears as family and friends gathered to say goodbye to William Sumner Monday night.

The father of three was shot to death on Father's Day in Winnipeg's North End.

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"I really miss him," said William George Sumner Sr., who is now trying to bring his late son's body home to Fairford, Man.

Sumner Sr. wants answers about his son's death and is struggling to cope with the sudden loss that's hit his family.

"I'm speechless right now," he said.

Sumner, 27, was visiting friends at a home in the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue on Sunday when he was shot three times, his aunt Doreen Sumner told CBC.

He died in hospital later that day.

Dozens gathered Monday night to remember Sumner in front of the house on Pritchard where he took his last breaths outside.

Sumner's aunt Lillian Catcheway sang and drummed for her late nephew, while others gathered in a circle to light candles on the ground next to photos of Sumner.

'I thought it was a joke'

Lillian Pruden wept as she spoke about her nephew and said she considered him to be more of a brother and grew up with him. She found out through Facebook Sumner had died after someone posted a rest in peace message on his account.

"I thought it was a joke. We kept posting 'don't post jokes,' but an hour later we found out that he was shot," she said.

"It's a short life to take away from a father of three."

Pruden said her family is trying to get Sumner's body from authorities, so they can give him a proper burial in Fairford.

She said the family is still waiting to hear from police about potential arrests.

"We're still trying to know the circumstances that happened because we're not being told nothing at all right now from the police."