Gerald Washington

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Gerald Washington (c. 1949—December 30, 2006) was the mayor-elect of Westlake, Louisiana until he was shot and killed on December 30, 2006. He was scheduled to take office on January 2, 2007 as the first black mayor in the city's history, elected by voters who were over 80% white. His death triggered accusations that he was the victim of a racially motivated murder, although the Calcasieu Parish coroner ruled the death a suicide. He was killed by a single gunshot from his own revolver, and powder was found deep in the wound, which, according to the coroner, indicated that it was pressed against his chest at the time, a sign of suicide. However, no motive for or other evidence of suicide was found, and his family has accused the Sheriff's office of doing a poor job.