Family left in shock after 29-year-old’s death

A Christmas celebration left one Raceland family mourning the loss of a loved one.

Quincy Scott, 29, was fatally shot in the head at close range by a friend, family members said. The incident happened early Friday inside the 388 Greenville St. home Scott shared with siblings.

Scott’s longtime friend, Cornel Smith, 23, of 638 Ayo St. in Raceland, has been charged with the murder.

Scott leaves behind 12 children, five brothers and one sister. Prior to making his burial arrangements on Monday, his brother, Darrin Molaison, said the family was still in disbelief.

Molaison was at home when his brother, Christopher Gaudet, told the family of his brother’s murder.

“My initial thoughts were, ‘You have got to be joking,'” he said. “And when I saw it for myself, I still could not believe it. When I left the house that morning I was like, ‘When does tragedy stop for me?'”

The siblings just buried their mother, Jenelle Molaison, five months ago.

Scott’s sister, Karen Harris, was at work when she received word of the shooting. Harris lived with Scott and Gaudet at the Raceland residence.

“I just grabbed my bag and ran out the door,” she said.

Harris said the atmosphere around their home will be very quiet in the wake of Scott’s death. He is described as having been the lively, entertaining sibling.

“We’ve lived together for years,” she said. “And when I tried to go to sleep the other night, I couldn’t because I was thinking about him. I was thinking about how he used to keep me laughing at his jokes and stuff. It was real hard to get some sleep that night.”

Scott was known in the Raceland community as an avid hunter and fisherman. His relatives spoke of the many days he spent by the bayou side fishing near his Raceland home or hunting rabbit.

“People would call my brother just to see what he had caught today because they knew he was always fishing,” Harris said. “And when hunting season comes, they always know he is going to catch something.”

Family and friends were gathered at Scott’s home for a party on Christmas night. The partying and drinking carried over into the morning hours.

Sometime during the party, Gaudet, who in his bedroom, reported hearing a loud pop. Shortly after, one of Scott’s cousins entered Gaudet’s room and said, “I think your brother might be dead.”

Molaison said his younger brother rushed to Scott’s side. He found the 29-year-old slumped over in his rocking chair. Gaudet immediately called 911.

After investigating the scene and taking accounts from witnesses, officials with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said they suspect that the drinking led to the shooting. Witnesses told deputies that Smith had been pointing and playing with a handgun most of the night.

Molaison said he does not know what to make of the situation after hearing his brother’s account of what happened. “If it had been a stranger, then maybe I would feel differently about it,” he said. “I can’t believe that a person I have known all my life would kill my brother.”

Molaison admits that his brother’s party habits could have been a direct result of the way Molaison used to live his life years ago.

“I used to be the same way and I think some of my bad habits rubbed off on him,” he said. “But I grew up and I think my brother was trying to do the same.”

Scott was supposed to start work with a Houma construction company at the beginning of the year. Molaison believed that his brother was finally taking the initiative to help support his 12 children.

“He was just starting to grasp the reality that every day life was not a big party,” Molaison said. “He wanted to start providing for his kids because it was never about what he wanted, it was always about what he wanted for them. He was finally getting stable employment to provide for them.”

The Scott and Smith families have known each other for years. Scott’s sister Harris said the Smith family lived next door when they were younger.

The two close-knit families have not had an opportunity to speak since the tragic shooting. Molaison said his family is trying to stick together to cope with their loss.

“Accidents do happen, but life is not a game and the sooner we all realize that, the better off everyone will be,” he said. “We have to start making smarter choices to prevent things like this. I don’t feel like I lost one brother, I feel like I lost two.”

When asked whether the bond has been severed between the two families, Molaison said, “You can’t blame the whole family for one individual’s actions. Our bond is not destroyed, but it will never be the same.”

Smith is being charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lafourche Parish Chief Deputy Bud Dill said he fled the scene heading to New Orleans with his girlfriend, Lindsey Matherne, 23, of 176 S. Leon Drive in Gheens.

Matherne was arrested by deputies at a truck stop in Des Allemands around 6:15 a.m. after returning from New Orleans. She was in the car alone, authorities said. She is being charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. She also had a theft warrant from Terrebonne Parish. Her bond has been set at $100,000.

Smith turned himself in at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center around 9 p.m. that night. His bond has been set at $650,000.