Weekend homicide victim was Iraq War vet, Food Lion employee
Published 12:05 am Thursday, April 7, 2016
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
A man who was found dead inside his burning apartment Sunday was an Iraq War veteran and Food Lion employee.
The body of Joseph “David” Walker, 37, was discovered Sunday morning by Salisbury firefighters responding to his unit at Alexander Place Apartments, 632 Hamilton Drive, after receiving a call about smoke there.
Police Capt. Shelia Lingle said a homicide investigation continues, and no arrest had been made as of Wednesday. Police said early on they don’t believe the killing was random, but they have not said how Walker was killed.
Lingle said Walker had only lived at the complex for several months. Neighbors interviewed earlier this week said they didn’t know him.
Walker had apparently previously lived in Kernersville and had family in that area. An obituary in the High Point Enterprise said he was born in Brevard County, Fla., on June 6, 1978, and graduated from high school in Clinton, Md.
Walker served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2007, including a 2004 tour of duty in Iraq, the obituary said.
He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2013, and had been working for Delhaize Group — Food Lion’s parent company — in Salisbury, a job for which he apparently moved to the city.
Food Lion spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown said the company was deeply saddened at the news of Walker’s death.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and co-workers at this very difficult and sad time,” Phillips-Brown said. She declined to specify Walker’s position with the company.
A reporter attempted to contact Walker’s parents, Joe and Carnel Walker, by phone, with no response. According to his obituary, he enjoyed playing the saxaphone, computers and gaming.
A service for Walker will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Cumby Family Funeral Service, Archdale, with the Rev. Morris G. Little officiating. A committal service will follow at Mt. Gur Cemetery Columbarium in Kernersville, with military honors accorded by the Randolph County Honor Guard. His family will receive friends today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The SBI is assisting in the investigation.
