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Taquion Cotton (left) shot and killed Roderick Wilson Jr. after an initial confrontation at a church, where Wilson’s father is a pastor, according to authorities. (Mug shot of Cotton and image of Wilson: Polk County Sheriff’s Office; screenshot of church sign: WTVT)
A murder suspect allegedly bit his own mother as deputies arrested him for fatally shooting a pastor’s son. Detectives are still investigating why the defendant, Taquion “Quan” Cotton, 22, killed Roderick Wilson Jr., 20, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said on Monday.
The young men got into a confrontation overnight this weekend, police said.
Cotton drove up to the Pentecostal Church of God at 1261 34th Street NW in the city of Winter Haven and had a confrontation on the street with the victim, said deputies and Sheriff Grady Judd. There was pushing and talking. Cotton drove away, but footage showed him circling the block and looking for Wilson, according to Judd. At 12:51 a.m. on Sunday, the suspect allegedly shot and killed Wilson.
It is unclear why all this happened in the first place. There was no immediate evidence of them knowing one another, Judd told reporters on Monday. Authorities noted that the young men lived near each other — Cotton resided a couple of blocks from the church.
The sheriff described Wilson as a “good kid” with no criminal history. The 20-year-old victim lived in an apartment on church property, working for his father.
“He’s solid. He’s just a solid young man,” Judd said.
As for Cotton, he has a pretty lengthy history of arrests for crimes including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, burglary, theft, battery, drug and weapons charges, and resisting, authorities said. He has no felony convictions on record, Judd said.
For example, records in the attempted second-degree murder case show that prosecutors made a “no bill” filing, dropping charges against Cotton and co-defendant Carlito Henderson, who allegedly opened fire at the boyfriend of Cotton’s cousin but missed.
Detectives managed to identify his vehicle, and his mother, who was mortified at the murder, cooperated with them, Judd said. She pointed out possible areas her son might be at.
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When detectives found defendant Cotton, he allegedly fled and ran up to a woman — a stranger — as she was entering her home. He battered her and put her in a chokehold while trying to get inside the residence, police said.
His mother, who lives in the area, ran to help the woman, but Cotton began biting his mother, according to authorities. Deputies tased him. After being put in custody, Cotton allegedly yelled at his mother to not press charges against him for biting her.
Detectives had yet to find the murder weapon on Monday. Judd suggested Cotton passed it off to someone else. He said there’s a $5,000 reward for someone to turn it over.
Cotton allegedly made incriminating statements, though he did not make a full confession. Judd did not elaborate on the details of the alleged admissions.
From deputies:
If anyone has additional information regarding the murder and/or relationship of the two men, you are urged to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200 or to remain anonymous, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.
