Third arrest in shooting death
Published 10:06 pm Thursday, September 25, 2014
A 31-year-old with an extensive criminal history has become the third person charged in Monday’s shooting death of furniture merchant Donald Carter.
Katron S. Walker was arrested Wednesday night in Western Tidewater Regional Jail.
He had been held there since being accused of forcing his way into the home of Leon Jerome Hayes, 33, and Naomi Nichelle Lambert, 22 — both arrested less than 24 hours after 82-year-old Carter’s murder.
All three accused are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and two counts of use of firearm in the commission of a felony.
They have each been denied bond on those charges, and preliminary hearings in General District Court are set for Nov. 3.
Prosecutors say the elderly businessman, a fixture in the 100 block of East Washington Street where he was gunned down near his store, was shot in the abdomen after Hayes, Lambert and Walker planned out the crime.
Prosecutors believe each member of the trio was present during the murder and “actively participated.” Carter died at Sentara Obici Hospital half an hour after he was found.
According to court records, Walker was convicted in 2005 of selling drugs from a front porch. Police found a loaded .38-caliber handgun in his coat pocket with the serial number removed.
An earlier felony conviction was for stealing a car in 2002.
Like Hayes, Walker also has had suspended sentences revoked for bad behavior and parole violations.
Lambert, meanwhile, was previously charged with assault and battery of a police officer, attempting to burn or destroy an occupied dwelling and obstruction of justice, receiving a 12-month jail sentence with six of those suspended after pleading guilty to lesser assault and battery and arson charges.
Hayes’ mother acknowledges her son has made mistakes, but she said Tuesday she didn’t believe he was capable of murder. Walker’s mother either wasn’t home or didn’t answer the door at her Nansemond Square apartment, off Dill Road, Thursday afternoon to comment on her son.
Walker had been staying with other family in the 2900 block of Carolina Road. Neighbors Thursday were unaware the accused killer lived across from them.
Alongside the previously reported entering a dwelling intending to commit a felony, Walker also faces a second charge stemming from the alleged home invasion: stealing property valued at less than $200, after prosecutors said he stole a shirt — apparently an attempt to disguise himself near the end of a police pursuit.