Hours after Philadelphia Police announced a suspect in the weekend shooting and robbery of a man walking up from a SEPTA Broad Street Line Station, police say they arrested the teenager accused in that assault and another robbery.
At a press conference Thursday morning, police said that Shawn Walker’s parents contacted officers after they recognized him from surveillance video released of Sunday’s robbery and shooting. In the video, a man in a blue hoodie, who police identified as Walker, is seen walking through the North Philadelphia (Broad Street and Glenwood Avenue) station.
NBC10 learned that officers arrested Walker at his aunt's house on the 5200 block of Duffield Street in the Wissinoming section of the city less than two hours after the press conference.
Walker is accused of shooting a 53-year-old man in the hip around 7:40 p.m. Sunday as the man tried to run away after Walker allegedly tried to rob him. As the victim lay on the ground, police say Walker took $280 in cash and credit cards. The man survived the shooting.
"I really feel that this guy would have shot and killed him if it wasn't for the SEPTA police walking around the corner and helping (the victim) at that point," Philadelphia Police Lt. George McClay said.
Police say Walker, 18, who has a criminal record including four prior arrests dating back to age 14, is also a suspect in the armed robbery Friday of the Espinal Grocery Store at 1601 W Lehigh Avenue.
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In the Lehigh Valley robbery Walker allegedly wore a mask and carried a .45-caliber handgun, according to police.
A second man is also suspected in that case where $400 was taken from the cash drawer.
Walker was charged with robbery, aggravated assault and related charges, police said.
Police were working on getting search warrants to hopefully recover the weapon allegedly used in the robberies.
As he was marched past reporters in handcuffs Thursday afternoon, Walker shook his head when asked if he committed the crimes.
