Published November 20, 2014
Philadelphia police charged a convicted felon Friday in the slaying of a police officer who was robbed and killed on his way home from work, and urged a suspected teen accomplice to surrender.
Both men have prior arrest records, and the alleged shooter had served at least two years in prison on gun charges, court records show.
Rafael Jones, 23, the alleged shooter, was charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and other counts in the slaying last weekend of veteran Officer Moses Walker Jr. Jones had been arrested earlier in the week on an alleged parole violation.
Police identified the other man seen on surveillance video, who is still being sought, as 19-year-old Chancier McFarland of North Philadelphia.
"I don't think you want our fugitive task force or our SWAT team to come and get you," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey warned McFarland.
Walker, 40, had changed into street clothes after an overnight shift and was walking to a bus stop at about 6 a.m. Saturday when two men crossed the street and tried to rob him. Walker had time only to draw his gun before he was fatally shot in the chest, stomach and arm, authorities said.
The robbery attempt mirrored several other armed holdups in the area in the last few months, police said.
Funeral services are set for Monday for Walker, who was not married and had no children. News reports have described him as a devoted member of his church. He had spent 19 years in the department, nearly all of them in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where he was killed.
Ramsey described Walker's relatives, including his mother and a nephew, as "elated" by news of Jones' arrest. He is also survived by five siblings.
"They also know we have one more person to bring into custody, so we are not finished yet," Ramsey said. "At least there is some measure of relief."
Jones served at least two years in prison on 2007 gun charges. Robbery and bodily injury charges that were initially filed in the case were later withdrawn. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer in the murder case. He had previously been represented by the Philadelphia public defender's office, which does not comment on clients.
Ramsey called Jones "a violent thug" and said he hopes the court system puts him away this time "for the rest of his miserable life."
Defense lawyer Jeff Muldawer, who was court appointed to represent McFarland on misdemeanor drug charges filed in April, said his client's first name is Chancies, not Chancier. That case is set for trial on Sept. 7. McFarland had posted $8,000 bail.
"I felt the earlier case was a winnable case," Muldawer said Friday.
McFarland had also spent time in juvenile detention, court records show.
The city, the police union and others had posted a reward of more than $100,000 as police searched for Walker's killers. Ramsey called the reward helpful to investigators, but said it was not the only reason people came forward with information.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/one-dead-one-urged-to-surrender-in-philadelphia-officer-death