Florida man, 73, assaulted in Publix parking lot, suspect turns himself in
A Florida man turned himself over to police after being identified as a suspect seen on video pummeling a 73-year-old man in a Publix parking lot on Saturday during a verbal dispute, authorities said.
A Florida man caught on video brutally beating a 73-year-old man during a verbal dispute in a Publix parking lot over the weekend has been taken into custody, authorities said Tuesday.
Donald Ray Walker, 43, turned himself over to authorities at the Polk County Jail early Tuesday, the Winter Haven Police Department said.
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"We are thankful to all of the citizens who called in tips that led us to identify Walker," Winter Haven Police Chief David Brannan said in a written statement.
Donald Ray Walker, 43, turned himself over to police early Tuesday after a warrant for his arrest was issued in connection to the assault on a 73-year-old man in the parking lot of a Publix grocery store in Winter Haven, Florida. (Winter Haven Police Department)
Walker, of Indian Lake Estates, was identified as a suspect from surveillance images taken nearby the Publix grocery store in Winter Haven. Police said Walker and his family had been eating at the nearby China Buffet before the incident unfolded.
The assault happened just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday as the victim was leaving the grocery store and entered a cross-walk, police said.
In this still image from surveillance video, Winter Haven police say a suspect, identified as Donald Ray Walker, pummeled a 73-year-old in a Publix Parking lot in Winter Haven on Saturday. (Winter Haven Police Department)
A pewter-colored Ford F-250 sped by and came close to hitting the 73-year-old man, who yelled at the male driver, according to authorities. The vehicle slowed and the two men had a verbal exchange.
As the pickup truck started to drive away, police said the older man started to walk toward the exit where the vehicle was heading. The driver allegedly stopped, got out of the car and punched the victim.
Donald Ray Walker, 43, was seen eating with his family at the nearby China Buffet before the assault in the Publix parking lot, police said. (Winter Haven Police Department)
When the 73-year-old man said he was going to call police, the suspect returned and "pummeled" the older man, authorities said. Surveillance video shows the victim fall the ground while the suspect repeatedly punches him.
Winter Haven police said tips from the public helped investigators identify Walker as the suspect wanted in connection to the brutal beating of a 73-year-old man in a Publix parking lot on Saturday. (Winter Haven Police Department)
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Police said the suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and smashed it on the ground to stop him from calling for help before leaving the scene.
Police didn't immediately provide an update on the victim's condition.
No details on what charges Walker would face were immediately given.
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