In Florida, investigators are piecing together the events that led to an alleged gang member fatally shooting a pastor's son in a church parking lot over the weekend.
The suspect, Taquion "Quan" Cotton, 22, stands accused of the murder of Roderick Wilson, Jr., a 20-year-old residing on the church property where his father served as a pastor.
The incident unfolded outside the Pentecostal Church of God in Winter Haven. A passerby's report of a body just before 2 a.m. Sunday brought deputies to the scene, where they discovered Wilson, who had succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
Sheriff Grady Judd revealed during a Monday press conference that Cotton initially had a confrontation with Wilson on the street, involving some pushing and talking. However, Cotton left the scene.
Later, surveillance footage captured Cotton's return to the church, where he engaged in another altercation with Wilson in the parking lot, eventually leading to Wilson's tragic demise. Detectives believe Wilson lay in the parking lot for nearly an hour before being discovered.
Wilson was described as a "good kid" with no prior criminal record, working at the church alongside his father.
Cotton, on the other hand, had a substantial history with 11 felony arrests and 6 misdemeanor arrests, totaling 17 criminal charges, despite having no felony convictions.
The suspect's vehicle was swiftly identified by PCSO's homicide team, with his mother playing a crucial role in providing leads on Cotton's possible whereabouts. Cotton was located not far from the initial murder scene, but his arrest was not without incident.
He allegedly approached a woman at her residence, placed her in a chokehold, and attempted to enter the premises. Deputies, along with Cotton's mother, had to contend with him during the apprehension, resulting in him biting his mother.
The firearm used in the shooting has yet to be found, and PCSO is offering a $5,000 reward for its recovery. Investigators continue their efforts to uncover the reasons behind the initial confrontation between Cotton and Wilson, urging any witnesses to come forward.
"Roderick was a Christian boy, and he loved the Lord. Now, unfortunately, he got to see the Lord face to face a lot sooner than I'm sure he wanted to or should have," said Sheriff Judd. "But, we have to bring justice through our system to the Roderick Wilson Jr. family."
Cotton faces a range of charges, including first-degree murder, burglary with battery, kidnapping, battery-domestic with prior conviction, harassing in a felony proceeding, resisting with violence, tampering with physical evidence, discharging a firearm in a residential area, and resisting without violence.
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