116:. According to the investigation, Washington had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars from his retirement account in gambling, owed about $ 50,000 to the IRS, and had been sleepless and depressed in the weeks leading up to his death. The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier officially closed the investigation on March 29, 2007, concluding that Washington had killed himself.
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The family acknowledged facts of financial and other issues, but contended that
Washington was strongly Roman Catholic and would not have died from suicide. They had made arrangements for a third autopsy of Washington's body. They found suspicious the fact that the fire department had been called in
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ruled the death a suicide, but his family believe it was a racially motivated assassination, as they said he received hate mail and threatening texts after his election. His son
Geroski Washington said his father was a "joyful man", due to celebrate his 58th birthday and his mother's 93rd on January
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He was found dead at a school parking lot of a gunshot wound to the chest. His gun was found near his truck. The truck was described as sprayed with foam and washed by the fire department before it was returned to his family house.
37:, in the southwest part of the state. Having served three terms on the city council, he died of a single gunshot wound on December 30, 2006. He was scheduled to take office on January 2, 2007. The
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Washington was a well-known and popular local political figure, having been elected and served three terms on the city council. He was a veteran of
Vietnam and had a career with
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mayor in the city's history, Washington was scheduled to take office on
January 2, 2007. The city is majority white, and more than 80% of those who voted for him were white.
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90:, and powder was found deep in the wound. The coroner said this finding meant that the gun was pressed against his chest at the time it was shot, and suggested suicide.
244:"National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. (NCBM) Calling on Louisiana State and Federal Officials to Conduct Thorough Investigation into Shooting Death of Mayor Elect"
175:"National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. (NCBM) Calling on Louisiana State and Federal Officials to Conduct Thorough Investigation into Shooting Death of Mayor Elect"
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The funeral was held for
Washington on January 13, 2007, and he was buried at Perkins Cemetery. His many friends and allies in the city came out to honor him.
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The state police report totalled more than 800 pages of documents, and included both additional physical evidence, such as the
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97:'s office of doing a poor job, and asked the state police to step in for a more thorough investigation.
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45:, which the family rejected. A state police investigation also concluded he had died from suicide.
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Rhonda
Kitchens & Lee Peck, "Sheriff Will Hold News Conference about Mayor-Elect's Death"
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29:(c. 1949 – December 30, 2006) was a local politician and elected in 2006 as the first black
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KPLC-TV Lee Peck, "Washington Family Speaks Out About State Police
Investigation"
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indicating the fatal wound was self-inflicted, and investigation of possible
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Washington was determined to have died from a single gunshot from his own
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This article is about the politician. For the
Mexican-American boxer, see
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Lee Peck, "Family and
Friends say goodbye to Gerald Washington"
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Cheryl Corley, "Questions in Death of Black Mayor-Elect in La."
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Pam Dixon and Lee Peck, "D.A. Closes Gerald
Washington Case"
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6. The case attracted national coverage and attention; the
165:, KPLC-TV, 30 December 2006; accessed 22 January 2018
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to wash his truck off the night his body was found.
223:, KPLC-TV, 30 March 2007; accessed 22 January 2018
211:, KPLC-TV, 29 March 2007; accessed 22 January 2018
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231:"Washington's Family On Standby For Answers"
189:, KPLC-TV, 13 January 2007; 22 January 2018
153:, 5 February 2007; accessed 22 January 2018
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305:21st-century African-American politicians
300:20th-century African-American politicians
60:Elected in the fall of 2006 as the first
285:American politicians who died by suicide
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275:African-American mayors in Louisiana
81:National Conference of Black Mayors
41:coroner ruled that his death was a
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295:20th-century American politicians
280:Suicides by firearm in Louisiana
246:- Press Release, 18 January 2007
177:- Press Release, 18 January 2007
290:People from Westlake, Louisiana
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270:Mayors of places in Louisiana
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110:pattern of blood spatters
21:Gerald Washington (boxer)
27:Gerald "Wash" Washington
93:His family accused the
151:All Things Considered
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114:motives
95:Sheriff
76:coroner
43:suicide
55:Conoco
62:black
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71:The
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