Posted on 12/31/2006 12:04:59 PM PST by LdSentinal
Just days before he was to take office, the body of Westlake Mayor-Elect Gerald Washington was found outside the old Mossville High School on Old Spanish Trail. According to authorities with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, the 9-1-1 call came in at 9:49 p.m. from a motorist passing the school who said they saw a body on the ground of the parking lot.
Calcasieu Sheriff's crime scene investigators arrived and found the body of a black male with a single gun shot wound. The body was later identified as Washington. The Calcasieu Coronor's Office is performing an autospy to determine the cause of death.
Westlake City Councilmen Bob Hardey and Danny Cupit were notified and came to the scene. Both say they had spoken to Washington the day before and recall him being excited about taking office.
"It was a total shock to everyone. We are a newly-elected bunch and "Wash" was going to be taking office on Tuesday," said Hardey. "We're missing a good friend and hopefully we'll get through this."
"It's Really hard to believe. It's a tremendous shock. We were looking forward to the next four years. I think we all had a good chemistry between the city council and the new mayor," said Cupit.
The City Council is now looking at the next step to appoint a new mayor. They say they have three options: Elect a mayor pro-temp; Governor Kathleen Blanco could appoint one; or outgoing Mayor Dudley Dixon could remain in office until a special election could be held. Hardey says they plan to have a meeting on Tuesday to discuss all options.
We'll have the latest on the investigation and reaction from Westlake residents Sunday night at 10:30 immediately following the NFL match-up on NBC.
Not particularly high crime. Westlake is a small city (under 5,000) right next to Lake Charles, a decent sized but not huge city (Just over 70,000). This is not Vegas, just a couple of casinos along the lake shore (we had three in the area, but Hurricane Rita ate one of them).
This is a shock because I am out of town visiting and a friend e-mailed that my mayor had been shot. Now I have to go home and see if I can figure out what actually happened, versus what the papers say.
His opponent was an innocuous little old lady, maybe a whiner, but not a shooter.
The outgoing mayor retired and did not seek re-election.
Family man, I hear no rumors of an on the side GF, but I could be just totally naive.
I am curious about the whole school parking lot thing myself and agree that it had to be soeone he knew...UNLESS he pulled over for car problems or something. We need more information. Find out if he was robbed or something. I'll have to grill some of the guys I work with as soon as I get home.
Fish, there is a LOT more to Louisiana than New Orleans. Trust me, there is a lot of anti N.O. sentiment IN louisiana as well, some because of the hurricane, some entrenched and stemming from resentment that attention within and without the state seems to focus on that paticular area. Louisiana is NOT a big swamp with one major city full of people with no morals and less common sense. We do seem to have more than our fair shaer of crooked politicians however :P
It's a very troubling story. I feel very sorry for the Mayor and his family. I hope they get of the bottom of this soon. Prayers for him, his family, and his constituents.
Thanks for the info...The more I think about it a school parking lot in during a holiday break is the perfect place to kill someone. Empty...360 degree view. If you invited the victim to a wooded area it would be suspicious.A school parking lot is public enough to ally suspicions and private enough at Christmas time to do the deed.
The person who killed him knew what they were doing...
I guess party doesn't have to be mentioned anymore in Louisiana. I assume it's a given that there's is only one party and Democrat is the name, may peace be on it.
I'll take a wild stab that Mr. Washington was a Democrat and that his electorate area votes 85% Democrat.
Leni
I'm originally from the city of Westlake. I lived there for 36 years and I've only been gone for 2 years now. Gerald Washington was a very good man. I, as are the citizens of Westlake, shocked and very saddened by his tragic death. Westlake is a small town and it's a close knit community. I can't imagine anyone wanting to harm "Wash" as he was known locally. He would have been a great mayor, no question about it. Westlake is a town of good people though and Wash was one of the best. People shouldn't rush to judgment in this case. The lead investigator with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Gary "Stitch" Guillory, was one of Wash's best friends and I know that he'll not rest until he knows the truth of what's happened. Westlake has lost one of it's best through this tragedy. May God bless the memory of Gerald "Wash" Washington and give his family strength and peace during this time of tremendous loss.
Sounds like he was too clean for Louisiana politics.
Sounds like he was too clean for Louisiana politics.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office will be holding a press conference today at 1:30 to give an update and new information regarding the case. I would imagine that they will be able to shed some more light on the situation then. Regardless of what comes out, the citizens of Westlake, and I myself have lost a friend and a wonderful Christian man.
Also, for those few who made reference to all of Louisiana being like New Orleans, you're very mistaken. Louisiana is really a wonderful place to live and it has some very fine people. New Orleans is almost like another country and it shouldn't reflect upon Louisiana as a whole. I lived in Westlake, Louisiana for 36 years and as I said earlier, I've only been gone now for the past 2 years. I now live in southern Mississippi and we were devastated here by Katrina. As former citizen of Louisiana, I was upset by the fumbling of Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco. I was also embarrassed by much of what was being broadcast from New Orleans and Mississippi suffered tremendously also. We whethered that storm out in our church and walked out after 1.5 million dollars worth of damage. But New Orleans pulled the media attention. I wouldn't live in New Orleans, because it is a haven for criminals and evil. But that's not the case with Louisiana as a whole. So for those of you who are saying that, you're speaking out of ignorance. I know firsthand.
May God bless the memory of my friend, Gerald "Wash" Washington and his family.
Coroner: Westlake Mayor-Elect's death was a suicideJanuary 2nd, 2007
Tuesday afternoon a press conference was held to discuss the death of Westlake Mayor-Elect Gerald Washington.
Washington was found dead Saturday Night in Mossville.
At the press conference the Calcasieu Parish Coroner's office said Washington had died from an self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Family members expressed outrage over how the investigation has been handled by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. They say the investigation was sloppy and they're adamant that Washington would not have taken his own life.
7 News will have more on this story beginning at 5:00 PM
"The Calcasieu Coronor's Office is performing an autospy to determine the cause of death."
I'm thinking lead poisoning.
Didn't see a post about it, but one of the articles said that no fingerprints were taken and the vehicle was released prematurely.
Coroner's office believes mayor-elect's death was a suicide (1/3)
By ERIC CORMIER
AMERICAN PRESSWestlake Mayor-elect Gerald "Wash" Washington's death Saturday was a suicide, the Calcasieu Parish sheriff and coroner believe.
At the request of Washington's family, however, the Sheriff's Office is turning over all evidence and findings to the state police for additional investigation.
At a news conference Tuesday, Sheriff Tony Mancuso said investigators believe Washington died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
Coroner Dr. Terry Welke said Washington's wound was consistent with that of a suicide.
"I conducted a full autopsy by examining the outside and inside of his body. There were no injuries found, other than one gunshot wound in the area of his left breast," Welke said.
Washington had a contact gunshot wound, created when the muzzle of a gun was against his chest as the shot was fired. "That gun barrel was pressed tight to his skin," Welke said.
Mancuso is confident that his detectives conducted a thorough investigation.
"This is about somebody we love and were close to. We're trying to find the truth. If our findings stand, we may never know all of the answers. I wish I could put people's minds at ease," Mancuso said.
Washington's family asked the sheriff to allow another agency to investigate.
"It is always hard for family members to believe a loved one caused their own death, and it was no different for the Washington family," Mancuso said.
Washington's body was found by authorities Saturday near his pickup truck at the old Mossville High School on Old Spanish Trail, west of Westlake, after two couples riding past the scene called 911.
Calcasieu investigators spent two days working on the case.
A gun with blood splattered on it was found at the scene. Mancuso said investigators had not confirmed if it was the gun used in the shooting.
Mancuso responded to a rumor that Washington might have called somebody moments before he died. The sheriff said it was possible, because Washington didn't die immediately after the shot was fired.
Mancuso also commented on rumors that Washington may have received death threats before the shooting.
"Yes, we've heard there was hate mail, but we can't prove it. Nobody has given us anything to prove otherwise," he said.
Calcasieu investigators are in the process of getting Washington's phone and financial records in an attempt to put together a better picture of what was going on in his life and to rule out reasons someone would have wanted to kill him.
Mancuso said he had spoken with Col. Henry Whitehorn, head of the state police, about assuming control of the investigation Tuesday.
"If I don't let another law enforcement agency look at the case, then the family will say we're hiding something," Mancuso said.
Capt. Russell Haman, Troop D commander, didn't comment on the investigation but is encouraging people to contact his office if they have information about the shooting.
Those with information can call Troop D at 337-491-2511.
Washington family not satisfied with investigation (1/3)
By ERIC CORMIER
AMERICAN PRESSThe children of the late Gerald "Wash" Washington aren't convinced that the well-known Westlake mayor-to-be would simply kill himself.
As they mourn, Washington family members and supporters are questioning the investigative procedures of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and Calcasieu Coroner's Office. Both agencies ruled Washington's death a suicide Tuesday.
Washington's daughter, Germaine Washington-Broussard of Colorado, and her brother, Geroski Washington of Texas, came to Southwest Louisiana to be with their mother.
"I have spoken with people handling the case, and nothing was done to honor my father, and we want to make sure he gets the justice he deserves," Washington-Broussard said.
She said the investigation by the Sheriff's Office was "sloppy."
Washington-Broussard said her father's pickup truck was given back to the family just hours after his body was found; no fingerprints were taken from the truck; no ballistics check was done on the gun found at the scene; an ownership check of the gun wasn't completed; no interviews were conducted; and the scene was examined for about four hours.
Washington-Broussard also has reservations about the crime scene photos. "I saw the pictures. The crime scene looked like a play. It looked staged," she said.
Sheriff's Office investigators said they never stopped working on the case and were in the process of collecting business records that may lead them into further investigation.
"And we've gotten no direct answers, but they have justification in saying he killed himself," Washington-Broussard said. "His heart was bigger than him, and my mother and father deserve more. My father deserves more than what he's been given."
Geroski Washington said he wants "justice" for his father.
"He was an elected official, but these people have done zero to find out what happened," he said.
Washington encouraged residents to help spread the news that a black mayor-elect was found dead. He also said he'd solicit the help of organizations like the NAACP, Rainbow Coalition and the FBI to make sure a thorough investigation is conducted into his father's death.
"We just want the investigation done correctly," he said. "This is Calcasieu Parish. If everyone loved him, what was investigated? No one in law enforcement has talked to anybody. He was lying in an isolated area that was pitch black. Someone he knew and trusted lured him out there."
Mancuso said he was confident in the investigative work done by his detectives and crime scene experts.
"They (Washington's family) want answers right now. I couldn't give it to them. Maybe there are things we can't answer," Mancuso said. "Wash was well respected. He was our friend. We did love him."
Washington family disputes suicide findings
January 2, 2007
Reported by Pam Dixon
KPLC TV"They are handling this in a sloppy manner," says Germaine Washington Broussard. Broussard and her brother, Geroski Washington, made it clear at the sheriff's news conference they were unhappy with the investigation into their father Gerald Washington's death. Broussard says, "As the sheriff said, no fingerprints were taken. The truck was released. This has been sloppy and a slap in the face to my father for everything he has done for Westlake." Sheriff Tony Mancuso says, "You can process a crime scene in ten hours. You can process it in one hour. Some crime scenes are difficult. Others are easy."
The two accused investigators, including their father's long time friend Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory, of rushing to judgement in ruling the death a suicide within four hours of the investigation. A tearful Guillory said, "I spent a lot of time with Gerald. He was my friend. I would never let a cover up happen. The facts speak for themselves."
Broussard and Washington believe their father was lured to the old Mossville School where his body was found Saturday night. Washington says, "He was lured by someone he trusted. It was an isolated and dark place. The only reason my father went was because it was someone he knew." Mancuso says, "We have rumors. We have theories. We don't have anything tangible to show that." A cousin in law said, "He was rising up in the world. There is nothing to indicate suicide." Broussard says, "They say everyone loved Wash. They assumed that. No one has talked to any friends."
Family members say Washington had received hate mail and threats on his life. Mancuso told relatives and media his office was not finished with the investigation, but because of the family's dissatisfaction with the results so far, he offered to turn the case over to state police to continue the search for answers.
The first BLACK Mayor-elect, how about that..... sounds...no, is VERY SUSPICIOUS to me!
Lookit, Washington was elected by a 69% margin in a town that is 80% white. There is no racial implication here.
If he was murdered it probably had nothing to do with his race. He was VERY well respected by both whites and blacks in Westlake. The rumor mill in town is very active.
Many folks believe he was murdered. I hope we can find out the truth. He was very well liked.
Yes, he was "very well liked" by both blacks and whites. The citizens of the City of Westlake has lost a very good friend in Mayor Washington. People need to allow all the facts to be gathered in the case and pray that the truth comes to the surface. Wash was a very distinguished and respected man of the community and Westlake will miss him.
RE: "know you are right, of course. I just get carried away as N.O. got all the media attention, mostly, I feel, to make Bush look bad. I got mostly upset watching them rebuild that town right back in the same 'below the waterline' area. If it was up to me, that town would be condemned and moved to a higher ground area. Does anyone out there not believe that in a year or two, maybe more, this flooding thing and dikes breaking is going to happen all over again. Then what? We give billions more to the same Idiots (starting with the Governor and Mayor). Promise me this wont happen."
I wish I could promise you that. I actually share your sentiments for the most part, but there area a lot of very good people in NO (or were :P ) You just hear from the loud mouth trash most of the time. It's a media focus thing. But then you generally hear from the vocal minority no matter what the issue or where in the world it is. Small groups with rash opinions or strong agendas generally like to be loud and blustery.
As far as Mr Washington goes it has been ruled a suicide, though I ahve heard that his kids are making waves and calling ti a racial thing. Considering that a majority caucasian town voted in a black mayor thought one would think that has not much to do with it. he was popular and a well liked man.
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