Pastor’s son killed in church parking lot, Florida cops say. Motive remains a mystery

A Florida minister’s son was found fatally shot in the church’s parking lot and detectives say they have a suspect but no clear motive.

Surveillance video revealed 20-year-old Roderick Wilson Jr. was arguing with Taquion “Quan” Cotton, 22, in the minutes before he was killed, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

What’s not clear is why Cotton left the lot, circled the block several times, then came back to shoot Wilson multiple times, officials said.

It happened Sunday, Oct. 22, outside The Pentecostal Church of God District 4 in Inwood, where Roderick Wilson Sr. is pastor, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Inwood is about 50 miles northeast of Tampa.

Investigators say Wilson Jr. worked at the church for his father and lived in an apartment near the parking lot.

“We know that (Cotton) drove up to the church and they had an initial confrontation out in the street where there was some pushing and talking and Roderick pulled his jacket off, and then (the suspect) drove away,” Judd said during a news conference.

“Then we have video that shows that (Cotton) drove back and in the parking lot of the church, he and Wilson had further words and he shot and killed Roderick.”

It’s believed the shooting occurred at 12:51 a.m., and Wilson Jr. suffered “multiple gunshot wounds.” A passerby discovered the body at 1:47 a.m., Judd says.

“So Roderick lay deceased in the parking lot of the church for almost an hour before a good Samaritan drove by and noticed this young man laying in the parking lot with blood around and no one there, and notified us,” Judd said.

Cotton was arrested Sunday, after detectives identified a vehicle connected to the shooting, officials said. The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered and a reward is being offered for its recovery.

“Detectives were in the area searching for the suspect (and) they spotted Cotton in the roadway, not far from the crime scene,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

“Cotton fled to a nearby residence after seeing a woman entering her home. Cotton battered the woman and put her in a choke hold while trying to get into her home. Cotton’s mother, who lives in the area, ran to the woman’s aid, and tried to assist deputies with apprehending her son. Cotton then began biting his mother.”

A Taser was used on Cotton “to protect the two women and get him secured,” officials said.

“Detectives are still trying to determine Taquion Cotton’s motivation,” the sheriff’s office said. “At this time, there is no indication the two men knew each other prior to (that night).”

The only connection, Judd says, is proximity. The two lived about quarter of a mile apart, he said.

Cotton has been charged with:

• First-degree murder
• Burglary with battery
• Kidnapping
• Battery-domestic with prior conviction
• Harassing in a felony proceeding
• Resisting arrest with violence
• Tampering with physical evidence
• Discharging a firearm in a residential area
• Resisting without violence

This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Pastor’s son killed in church parking lot, Florida cops say. Motive remains a mystery."