Wanted Homicide Suspect Taken Into Custody

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in the afternoon hours, the Cottonport City Police Department received information on the location of a subject wanted by the Abbeville Police Department for the March 2022 shooting death of 18-year-old Freddy Gomezsoto of Abbeville, LA.  Cottonport PD officers received information that 23-year-old Gary Wayne Turner Jr. was located at a residence on Ducote Lane in Cottonport.  Cottonport Police Chief Jennifer Lofton requested the assistance of the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO).  Cottonport PD, Moreauville PD, and APSO Deputies responded to a residence on Ducote Lane.  Shortly after the arrival of the responding officers, Turner was seen inside the residence.  Turner was armed with a firearm and refused to voluntarily surrender to police.  Shortly thereafter, APSO Crisis Negotiators began talking to Turner.

After over 3 hours of communicating with Turner, he voluntarily surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.  Turner told officers where he left the firearm in the residence.  A loaded semi-automatic handgun was found in the residence where Turner said it was.  There was a lot of clapping and cheering by nearby relatives of Turner and other on-lookers near the scene when Turner was safely taken into custody.  APSO Deputies safely transferred custody of Turner to Chief Lofton, who coordinated with Abbeville PD Detectives.  Turner was subsequently booked into the APSO DC-1 Jail Facility and is currently awaiting transfer to Vermilion Parish.

Sheriff David L. Dauzat wants to thank the Cottonport Police Department, Moreauville Police Department, and APSO Deputies involved in the apprehension of Turner for their swift response and great teamwork.  We are committed to working with other law enforcement agencies to bring offenders like Turner to justice.