Man who killed pastor’s son at church was controlled by “demonic spirit”

The mother of an accused murderer in Florida believes that her son was overtaken by “demonic spirits.”

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said the body of 20-year-old Roderick Wilson, Jr. was found with multiple gunshot wounds early Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Pentecostal Church of God in Winter Haven, where the victim’s father is a pastor. Florida has the 27th-highest rate of gun deaths in the United States, according to Every Town.

Taquion “Quan” Cotton, 22, who lives a couple of streets away from the church, was identified as the suspect and arrested on the following felony charges: 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.

“I’m devastated. Very devastated about this situation,” Cotton’s mother, Shavon Sheffield, said according to local CBS affiliate WTSP in St. Peterburg. “He opened up a demonic spirit that he can’t control. I don’t believe the video or whatever they showed me looked like my son. I asked to see other angles and they wouldn’t show me.”

Members of PCSO’s homicide and crime scene investigation units have conducted multiple witness interviews and pieces of evidence relating to the incident. The murder was reportedly captured by nearby surveillance footage.

“Regarding the video of the murder, we haven’t shared it publicly yet as detectives are still hoping to speak to additional witnesses,” PCSO public information officer Brian Bruchey told Newsweek via email.

He did not respond to the statements made by Cotton’s mother regarding being possessed by demons, and other PSCO officials have publicly stated that it remains unclear what led to the altercation and eventual shooting death.

“Detectives are still trying to determine Taquion Cotton’s motivation to commit this murder,” PCSO Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference on Monday. “At this time, there is no indication the two men knew each other prior to tonight. Despite the murderer being locked up, there is still work to be done.”

Cotton and Wilson reportedly exchanged words and a shoving altercation ensued prior to a gun being pulled out and used, Judd added.

The firearm used in the homicide has still not been recovered.

The body of Wilson Jr., who had been living in an apartment on church property, was reportedly discovered by a passerby at about 1:57 a.m. Judd said multiple vehicles drove by around the time of the incident, publicly requesting for them to come forward as witnesses.

PCSO said Cotton was found on Sunday afternoon during an area search affiliated with the homicide.

Cotton was reportedly spotted in a roadway not far from the crime scene, prompting the suspect to flee to a nearby residence where he allegedly battered a woman and put her in a chokehold so he could gain entry.

Sheffield reportedly ran to the woman’s aid and attempted to help deputies apprehend her son. Cotton allegedly bit his mother, leading deputies to use a taser to subdue him.

After he was apprehended, Cotton reportedly yelled for his mother to not press charges against him for biting.

“It’s never going to be the same,” Emily Pringle, the mother of Wilson, told WTSP on Monday. “I don’t have my baby.”

Newsweek reached out to Wilson Sr. and the Pentecostal Church via email for comment.

Cotton’s previous criminal history includes 11 felonies and 9 misdemeanors consisting of the following charges: attempted murder, aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, burglaries, thefts, batteries, drug and weapons violations, and resisting.