Family pleas for help to solve murder

DORAL, Fla. (WSVN) -- A family who lost a loved one to gun violence is asking for the public's help to find the shooter responsible.

Police hosted the family at Miami-Dade Police Department Headquarters, Thursday morning, as they turn to the public for clues to help solve this murder mystery.

It has been eight months since 36-year-old Victor Walker was shot and killed. Police do not have a lot of leads or information, so the family is appealing to the community to step up and give them some answers

The plea comes after a heart-breaking Christmas for a family who lost this beloved man. It proved an especially painful holiday for 9-year-old Erika Walker. "Just the other night Erika said, 'If my father was here, I would have everything for Christmas,'" said Rosetta Simmons, the victim's grandmother, talking about her now father-less great granddaughter.

The child's father was gunned down during a drive-by shooting on April 6. Simmons believes, on that Good Friday morning, he was doing what he was known for in the neighborhood. "He preached," she said. "He tried to save people's lives and tell them the right way to go, so I would think that he was out trying to save lives."

The shooting happened outside Dolphin Food Market, at Northwest 46th Street and 23rd Court, at about 1:17 in the morning. Police said a shooter or shooters in a white or cream colored sedan drove by and sprayed bullets from a high powered rifle into the parking lot. MDPD Detective Javier Pineda said, "Obviously, Mr. Walker was struck and killed on the scene, and there was a second victim that was also struck. However, she survived her injuries."

Police say a motive for the shooting remains a mystery. Now, the grandmother is getting older and wants to know as soon as possible what exactly happened to her grandson before she leaves this earth. Pineda noted, "Everyone has a loved one, and they have a right to know as to the reason that their loved one was killed."

Simmons said, "Tell what happened to my grandson, and who did it, and that will probably save some other person's life."

If you have any information about what happened on the night of Walker's shooing death, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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