A dispute over stolen drugs reportedly resulted in the Louisiana killing of a Kent man and the arrest of four men for his death.
Jamary Quincy Wafer, 27, was found dead on April 14 on a street in the small northeastern Louisiana town of Tallulah, according to a Monday media release from the Louisiana State Police.
Wafter was found, “lying face down, shot and partially burned on Tampa Street,” according to the release.
Authorities have reason to believe that the killing of Wafer was retaliation for the theft of the drugs, according to the release, which didn’t state what type of drugs were involved. The search continues for a fifth man suspected in the death.
“We’re not sure what kind of drugs or how much,” said Trooper Albert Paxton of the Louisiana State Police during a phone interview. “The victim was the only person with an address in Kent. A couple are from the Tacoma area and there are ties to Texas and California. They are all in the underworld.”
On Sunday in Utah, Utah State Police and the Iron County Sheriff’s Office arrested Zeland Adams, 28, on Interstate 15 after Adams led police on a high-speed chase and held a small child hostage for about five hours. Adams is from Yakima, according to the Iron County Sheriff’s Office.
Kent Police were not involved in the investigation into Wafer’s death, said spokeswoman Melanie Frazier. She said police had previous contact with Wafer and Adams but for minor violations.
“We’ve had no contact with either one in the last three or four years,” Frazier said. “We’ve had contact with them but nothing of significance beyond traffic tickets.”
The FBI South Town Gang Task Force in Tacoma, the U.S. Marshals Services, the Dallas Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department in San Antonio, Texas and the Washington State Patrol assisted the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office and detectives with the Louisiana State Bureau of Investigations in the arrests of three other suspects.
Kyle Everhart, 28, and Joshua Walker, 25, each from the Tacoma area, were arrested in Tacoma. The gang task force tracked down Everhart on April 22. Walker turned himself in at the FBI office in Tacoma on April 23.
Deputies arrested Antoine Newton, 34, on April 23 in Texas.
Police are still looking for Harold Brinkley, 25, whose last known address was in Dallas. He uses the alias “Yella Boy.” He is considered dangerous and has ties to California, Washington, Arizona and New Mexico. He is believed to be from the San Francisco area.
According to the Louisiana State Police, Wafer and the four other men checked into the Days Inn April 13 in Tallulah. The men arrived in two vehicles at approximately the same time.
Physical evidence from the motel room and the scene where Wafer’s body was found led investigators to the men arrested for his killing.
Authorities believe the killing resulted from stolen drugs en route to Alabama. Everhart is a known drug dealer with ties to Tallulah, police said. The drugs and men reportedly have ties to a Mexican Drug Cartel.
The U.S. Marshals Office in Dallas, Texas and the Dallas Police Department were able to identify all five of the suspects after recovering one of the suspect’s vehicles.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Paxton said. “Investigators have not been able to question the suspects yet. Some are going to Utah tonight.”
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