On Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Winter Haven, Florida, a 20-year-old was fatally injured in the parking zone of the Pentecostal Church of God.
The young man, Roderick Wilson Jr., was deeply intertwined with the church community, being the son of its pastor. He also called the church premises home, living in an apartment on its grounds.
Taquion “Quan” Cotton, a 22-year-old known to have had brushes with the law, stands accused of the devastating act. A security system from a neighboring business captured their altercation, shedding light on the gruesome sequence of events.
Initial footage showed Cotton engaging in a physical dispute with Wilson. After this brief clash, Cotton drove off, only to return shortly and start another, more deadly conflict. The video clearly showed Cotton taking Wilson’s life with a gun. A passerby, almost an hour later, stumbled upon the tragic scene around 2 a.m.
While describing the two individuals, Sheriff Grady Judd portrayed Wilson Jr. as a young man with a clean record, actively participating in church activities under his father. Cotton, on the other hand, had an alarming record with 11 felony arrests and six misdemeanors. Notably, none resulted in a felony conviction.
Cotton’s mother said she believes that her son was overtaken by “demonic spirits.”
In the aftermath, Cotton’s vehicle was identified by officers, showcasing the Polk County Sheriff’s Office’s homicide team’s effectiveness. Cotton’s capture was intense; he allegedly attacked a lady, attempting to use her as a shield to break into her house. The situation worsened when his mother tried to intervene, getting bitten by Cotton in the process. Officers were forced to deploy a taser to subdue him.
Though Cotton is detained, the gun remains elusive. A reward of $5,000 is on offer by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for any leads on its location.
The reasoning behind the fatal encounter remains clouded in mystery. The Sheriff’s office is reaching out for potential eyewitness accounts or clues to clarify the events leading up to the tragedy.
Sheriff Judd, in a press meet, spoke of Wilson’s devout Christian life and his loss’s profound impact on the community. Judd is committing to bringing justice for the grieving family. Cotton now confronts a series of grave charges, including first-degree murder, burglary resulting in battery, kidnapping, among others.
