Fifth man sought in Tallulah cartel killing
Published 11:30 am Thursday, May 1, 2014
A fifth man suspected of shooting a former gang associate before setting his body on fire in a drug cartel-related killing Tallulah earlier this month is on the lam, and authorities are seeking clues to put him in jail.
Harold Brinkley, 25, of Dallas is suspected it taking part in the shooting death of Jamary Quincy Wafer, 27, of Kent, Wash., earlier this month in Tallulah, Louisiana State Police spokesman Albert Paxton said.
The shooting is believed to be over a stolen shipment of Mexican drug cartel narcotics that were in route to Alabama, Paxton said. The type and amount of drugs stolen have not been released.
“Authorities have reason to believe that the murder of Wafer was retaliation for the theft of the drugs,” Paxton said.
Wafer’s shot and partially burned body was found April 14, lying face down on Tampa Street in Tallulah, Paxton said.
Four other men — Antoine Newton, Kyle Everhart, Joshua Walker, and Zeland Adams — have been arrested across the country and charged with the murder, Paxton said.
Brinkley is 5-9 and weighs about 170 pounds, Paxton said. His last known residence is in Dallas, but he has ties to California, Washington, Arizona and New Mexico.
Brinkley uses the alias “Yella Boy.”
“Brinkley is considered dangerous. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Brinkley is asked to call their local authorities,” Paxton said.
On April 13, Wafer and the five suspects checked into the Days Inn, 143 U.S. 65 South, in Tallulah after arriving in two separate vehicles.
“Investigators have also recovered physical evidence from the motel room and the scene where the body was discovered that led investigators to the suspects. The evidence analysis is continuing at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, Paxton said.
Vehicles belonging to the suspects were found abandoned in Dallas and in Webster Parish, La., Paxton said.
The FBI South Town Gang Task Force tracked down Everhart, 28, on April 22, in Tacoma, Wash. Paxton said Everhart is a known drug dealer in the Tallulah area. The next day, Walker surrendered to the FBI at their Tacoma office.
Also on April 23, Bexar County deputies arrested Newton, 34, in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.
Adams surrendered to the Utah State Police on Sunday after a high-speed chase and holding an infant hostage for five hours. Utah State Police first spotted Adams as a passenger in a vehicle at a gas station in Cedar City, Utah, about 250 miles south of Salt Lake City. Adams provided a fake ID, the trooper later wrote in a report.
After receiving a photo of Adams, the trooper caught up with and stopped the vehicle on Interstate 15 in Iron County, Utah. Two passengers exited the vehicle, but Adams hopped into the drivers seat and fled with the couple’s 2-year-old son.
Troopers chased him for 18 miles at an average of 120 mph before Adams eventually crashed.
“Adams yelled out the window that he had a gun and he would kill the child if we approached,” a trooper wrote in an incident report.
After five hours, USP negotiators talked Adams into surrendering and releasing the child, who was not injured, Utah High Patrol Capt. Barton Blair told The Salt Lake Tribune.