Victor Walker was a father and Rosetta Simmons' grandson. Nearly eight months after the 36-year-old's murder, his grandmother is begging for help.
"Please, please find him. Please help us find him so he won't do that to anyone else," Simmons pleaded at Miami-Dade Police Headquarters Thursday morning. "Victor's gone now. You can't save him, but you can save other lives."
Early in the morning of April 6, Walker was outside Dolphin Food Market when he was shot with a high-powered rifle, police said. It happened at about 1:30 a.m. at NW 46th Street and 23rd Avenue. A memorial still sits at the intersection.
"I don't know who would want to hurt Victor. Victor was a person who could always make you laugh, put a smile on your face," Simmons said. "It tore me up when I heard. I was away and ... I just couldn't take it."
Javier Pineda, with the Miami-Dade Police Department, said Walker was shot several times.
"There were multiple casings along the street/sidewalk area which would indicate they were at a close distance to Mr. Walker," he said.
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Police said they don't know if Walker was the intended target, but he was at the store often – probably preaching on the street corner, Simmons says. There is surveillance video of the crime, but police aren't sharing it.
Now, Simmons said she, and Walker's 9-year-old daughter Erica, are still trying to get used to their new reality.
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"Just the other night Erica said, 'if my father was here, I would have everything for Christmas.' She had a doll for Christmas, but she wanted more," Simmons said.
The shots fired came from a light-colored sedan, police said. They urge anyone with information about the shooting to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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