Police have arrested the second suspect in last Saturday’s shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Moses Walker, Jr.
Chancier McFarland, 19, was taken into custody today in Mobile, Alabama. His identity was released Friday when Rafael Jones, 23, who was arrested two days before on a bench warrant for failing to report to a probation officer assigned to him after he violated probation stemming from a previous gun conviction, allegedly confessed to the crime.
Although Jones reportedly claimed McFarland was the shooter, police believe Jones pulled the trigger. He was charged on Friday with murder, robbery and related offenses and is being held without bail.
Like Jones, who was reportedly supposed to be under both house arrest and electronic monitoring at the time of Walker’s death after he was convicted July 25 of violating probation on a gun conviction, McFarland is no stranger to the judicial system.
According to court documents, McFarland was court-ordered as a juvenile to serve an undisclosed amount of time at a residential detention center, where he remained until his 18th birthday.
When Walker was killed, McFarland was awaiting trial for an April 19 arrest that resulted in charges of conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possess drugs with the intent to manufacture or deliver and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance by a person without a prescription.
Less than three weeks after he was released on bail from that charge, McFarland was again arrested, this time for marijuana possession. He was on May 23 admitted into the Small Amount of Marijuana Diversionary Program, under which those found with 30 grams of pot or less are charged with a summary offense that will not affect their criminal record if they agree to enroll in a three-hour class about drug abuse.
McFarland was found to have completed the program at a court date on July 21. He again appeared before a judge 10 days later, when he was slated to be tried on the more serious drug offenses from his April arrest. Prosecutors at that time requested a continuance, claiming they were not ready to proceed with the case. Walker was killed 19 days later.
McFarland’s next court date for the conspiracy and manufacturing charges is set for Sept. 7. Jones’ preliminary hearing in Walker’s murder is scheduled for Sept. 12.
According to police, the two men attempted to rob Walker, 40, on the 2000 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. Aug. 18, minutes after he finished his shift at the 22nd District station and was walking to a nearby bus stop.
Walker,a 19-year veteran of the force, was shot three times and died at Hahnemann Hospital. Images of the two suspects were captured on surveillance footage from nearby businesses and a reward established by the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 quickly swelled to $118,000 as donations poured in from organizations and private businesses and individuals. It is unclear if that money played a role in either suspect’s arrest.
Funeral services for Walker began today with a march from the Dr. Ethel Allen Elementary School on the 3200 block of West Lehigh Avenue to Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 W. Lehigh Avenue, where a public viewing will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A private viewing will take place tomorrow morning at Deliverance Evangelistic Church from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a funeral ceremony and a procession from the church to Fernwood Cemetery, 6501 Baltimore Avenue, where he will be interred.
