Man shot in Alachua; convicted felon arrested

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Rodrick Kenjuan Walker, 44, was arrested early this morning after Alachua Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting.

The officers responded to a residence in the 13100 block of NW 151st Lane at about 10:40 p.m. last night and found a male victim who had been shot in the abdomen. He was transported to Shands at UF Health and underwent emergency surgery. A witness at the scene told officers that a suspect named “Rod” was in a neighboring house; Walker was detained, and a safety sweep of the house found two guns in plain view.

The witness said he had seen the victim walk behind his house and toward the house next door. Within seconds, he heard a single gunshot, and a short time later, he saw the victim crawling towards the rear of his house. The witness said he didn’t see the shooter but “heard” that it was Walker.

Post Miranda, Walker reportedly admitted to shooting Garrison. He said he and his fiancé had been in his vehicle parked in front of the house when they heard a commotion nearby. He said the victim told them he had been “jumped.” Walker told officers that the victim appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and was acting erratically and “pushing up” against his fiancé. They asked the victim to walk away and he did, but Walker said he came back later and pulled a knife on them, saying he was going to rob them. Walker said he then fired a single round at the victim, using a gun that belonged to his fiancé. He reportedly told officers that he didn’t know what happened to the gun after the shooting.

Walker has been charged with firing a weapon from a vehicle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held on $200,000 bond.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.