Florida man caught on video pummeling 73-year-old man in Publix parking lot turns himself in, police say

A Florida man caught on video brutally beating a 73-year-old man throughout a verbal dispute in a Publix car parking zone over the weekend has been taken into custody, authorities mentioned Tuesday.

Donald Ray Walker, 43, turned himself over to authorities on the Polk County Jail early Tuesday, the Winter Haven Police Division mentioned.

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“We’re grateful to the entire residents who referred to as in ideas that led us to determine Walker,” Winter Haven Police Chief David Brannan mentioned in a written assertion.

Walker, of Indian Lake Estates, was recognized as a suspect from surveillance photos taken close by the Publix grocery retailer in Winter Haven. Police mentioned Walker and his household had been consuming on the close by China Buffet earlier than the incident unfolded.

The assault occurred simply earlier than 2:30 p.m. on Saturday because the sufferer was leaving the grocery retailer and entered a cross-walk, police mentioned.

On this nonetheless picture from surveillance video, Winter Haven police say a suspect, recognized as Donald Ray Walker, pummeled a 73-year-old in a Publix Parking zone in Winter Haven on Saturday.
(Winter Haven Police Division)

A pewter-colored Ford F-250 sped by and got here near hitting the 73-year-old man, who yelled on the male driver, in response to authorities. The car slowed and the 2 males had a verbal change.

Because the pickup truck began to drive away, police mentioned the older man began to stroll towards the exit the place the car was heading. The motive force allegedly stopped, bought out of the automotive and punched the sufferer.

Donald Ray Walker, 43, was seen consuming along with his household on the close by China Buffet earlier than the assault within the Publix car parking zone, police mentioned.
(Winter Haven Police Division)

When the 73-year-old man mentioned he was going to name police, the suspect returned and “pummeled” the older man, authorities mentioned. Surveillance video exhibits the sufferer fall the bottom whereas the suspect repeatedly punches him. 

Winter Haven police mentioned ideas from the general public helped investigators determine Walker because the suspect wished in connection to the brutal beating of a 73-year-old man in a Publix car parking zone on Saturday.
(Winter Haven Police Division)

Police mentioned the suspect grabbed the sufferer’s cellular phone and smashed it on the bottom to cease him from calling for assist earlier than leaving the scene.

Police did not instantly present an replace on the sufferer’s situation.

No particulars on what costs Walker would face have been instantly given.