Gang member arrested for shooting, killing pastor’s son at Polk County church: Grady Judd
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - A man was shot and killed at a church in Winter Haven over the weekend, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Grady Judd announced Monday afternoon that Roderick Wilson Jr., 20, was found dead at the Pentecostal Church of God at 1261 34th NW in Winter Haven. According to PCSO, Wilson was the son of a pastor at the church.
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"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," Sheriff Judd said at a press conference on Monday. "But, we have to bring justice through our system to the Roderick Wilson Jr. family."
Photo courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
Deputies were alerted to Wilson's body by a passerby at 1:47 a.m. on Sunday. Sheriff Judd said that Wilson had been living in an apartment on church property.
Judd said there had been an initial confrontation between the two men, which involved "some pushing and shoving" before Cotton eventually drove off. Then, Cotton drove back and exchanged more words with Wilson before he shot and killed him.
Security footage from a business in the area captured the murderer. Detectives were searching in the area of the murder Sunday afternoon when they spotted Taquion "Quan" Cotton in the roadway.
Cotton fled to a nearby home after seeing a woman enter it and, according to PCSO, he battered the woman and put her in a chokehold in an attempt to enter her home.
Cotton's mother, who deputies said lives in the area, intervened to try to assist authorities in detaining her son. Deputies said Cotton then bit his mother, leading them to taser him and take him into custody.
"What is he thinking? Well, he's not thinking," Judd said. "I just wish momma had bitten him back. But we bit him with the system. He's locked up in jail where he should be."
According to the sheriff's office, once Cotton was in custody he yelled at his mother not to press charges against him for biting her.
He faces several charges, including first-degree murder, burglary with battery, kidnapping, and others. Sheriff Judd said at this point, there is no indication that the two men knew each other prior to this incident.
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Photo courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
Judd said on Monday they confirmed that Cotton was a gang member after previously believing he was a gang ‘associate.’
The gun used in the murder has not been found yet, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office is offering a reward for its recovery.
"We know that Quan passed this firearm off someplace," Sheriff Judd said. "Now, firearms on the street go for about $300. Now listen close … I'm making you a deal you can't refuse. If this gun's been passed off to you that's worth $300 on the street to you if you try to resell it, we'll pay you $5,000 for the gun."
According to PCSO, they are still searching for witnesses who might be able to offer information in the investigation. They asked anyone with information to call them at 863-298-6200.