First of 3 suspects in killing of Ypsilanti Township father scheduled to stand trial Tuesday
An Ypsilanti man charged with murder in a suspected drug deal that evolved into a fatal robbery is expected to stand trial in Washtenaw County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Willie Edward Walker, 30, is charged with murder in the Nov. 6 death of Jason Hoover at Schooner Cove Apartments in Ypsilanti Township. He will be the first of three suspects to stand trial.
Willie Walker
Police said three men fled in a vehicle after the shooting and later arrested Willie Walker, James Lester and Keywone Walker. Each of the three faces murder charges.
Jury selection finished Monday morning in Willie Walker’s case and jurors were told to return Tuesday ready for the trial to begin before Circuit Court Judge Melinda Morris’. Morris on Monday set separate trial dates for the two other defendants—Lester, on Aug. 22, and Keywone Walker, on Aug. 29.
Police investigators said Willie Walker, 30, fired the shot that killed Hoover, that Lester was in the apartment, and that Keywone Walker, also 22, drove their vehicle to and from the scene. All three have remained in police custody without bond since the slaying.
Hoover’s girlfriend, Sarah Collinsworth, witnessed the shooting, which she said occurred in her cousin’s apartment at the Schooner Cove complex. Collinsworth told AnnArbor.com in November Hoover had agreed to sell Lester an ounce of marijuana and that as Hoover took the drug out and showed it to Lester, Willie Walker pulled a handgun on him.
Collinsworth said Walker then shot Hoover once at “point-blank range in his chest.” She said the couple had thought Lester was a friend of Hoover’s, but that she believed Hoover was set up by Lester before the November shooting.
Walker will be represented by Erane Washington. In addition to felony murder, he faces two counts of armed robbery and four firearms-related charges.
Heidi Fenton covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
lefty48197
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
My deepest sympathies go out to all the friends and family members of the victim. They too are victims and their lives have been tragically altered forever. I hope the killer dies in jail. I hope his accomplices do too. We don't need human trash like them destroying lives and families.
Jamie
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 7:55 p.m.
Jason my my little brother, we loved regardless of what he did. He's not on trial here people... he was a victim. It doesn't have anything to do with what lead up to it. He's gone and no one can change that, everyone thinks he was a bad person because he was selling a bag of weed. newsflash people!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can be working at a CVS and a dope head can walk in knowing there are drugs there and shoot your family member next. Its not a point of what he was doing at the time of his murder, its the fact that he was murdered. My mother lost her son, my sister and I lost our brother, Sarah lost the love of her life and his little girl lost her daddy. And the facts today.... WIllie Walker stood up in open court and plead guilty he recieved 35 years in prison before he even gets a chance to go up in front of the parole board. So, now the facts are in. Willie Waker is guilty of murder. It only puts him in jail. It doesn't end his life. Despite the fact that we have been thru dealing with his death and trial, I as a mother myself realize that my family isn't the only one grieving. Not one person won in this situation and all you negative people just keep your comments to yourselves. Its bad karma to speak ill of the dead and its only the family left behind to read your crap.
krc
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
Melinda Morris? Not known for reasonable judgements. I wonder if she"ll step up to the plate on this one.
Jamie
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 8 p.m.
im jasons sister he took 35 years, thats before he ets a crack at parole
Kerri
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
Yes exactly. Doesn't really matter what he was selling or how much. If he is selling a drug then he is a drug dealer. However I make it clear that in no way does that affect my judgement of his character or as a father or person in general. I don't classify pot as some huge problem or that it deserves any focus really. The pill epidemic or heroin or cocaine I see as a bigger problem than any other drugs. But regardless to say he wasn't a dealer is sort of silly. Either way the man did not deserve to be murdered. His life is just as valuable as anyone else's not selling drugs! So what difference does it make? He did put himself in harms way by doing what he did but that shouldn't take away from the fact that three useless people ended his life over money and drugs.and for the record a lot of people sell drugs to make money to try to give a good life to their kids. Is it a bad choice? Yes! But to say that because this man sold drugs he didn't care about his daughter or family I completely disagree. Not all people are so lucky to afford college and get a high paying job that they love and that has great benefits and long term stability. Not every story is so cut and dry.
actionjackson
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
One ounce of marijuana and a murdered man is a "Drug Dealer" CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, etc are drug dealers. One ounce of pot is a $25 fine in Ann Arbor. This war on drugs that is now entering it's 25th year has caused so many thousands of useless deaths in this country and Mexico. One more little girl with no father. Wake up, weed should not carry a priority of the same level as cocaine and heroine which really are drugs with terrible consequences for some. The opiates such as oxycodone, oxycontin, methadone, valium, are readily available at a drive up window.
stevek
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
@actionjackson--at the present time, pot is not legal. Until it becomes legal, it is illegal. Just because you disagree with a law does not justify breaking the law.
stevek
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:50 a.m.
It will be interesting to hear what comes out during this trial. Finally we will be able to hear what REALLY took place that lead up to this unfortunate shooting. It is sad that a drug dealer got killed and left a child without a father.
Kerri
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:12 a.m.
I personally don't know any of the people involved although the crime did happen close to where I grew up and I know people who did know the victim in this case. Regardless of the fact that the victim made a bad decision to be involved in selling drugs because of course that field brings with it some unsavory characters and dangers. The judgement I'm sure in selling marinuana or smoking it plenty of people do either or both of these and that doesn't make them bad parents or otherwise in my opinion and I guarantee that the victim never would have thought something like that would happen. Thieves and murderers with no regard for human life are the scum of the earth. They are trash. And as for someone who drove the vehicle and took part in a robbery and murder yes they should pay too for murder. They knew what they were going there for they had a choice to take part. I can't understand how so many people hold human life as if there is no value. There's no connection there that a person is someones daughter, son, brother, sister, father, mother, the bottom line regardless of the details is that this is a horrible and sad story and hopefully justice will be served. Unfortunately justice won't bring back the little girls daddy. Drug deal or not the poor girl is the one who is the biggest innocent victim. So sad...
tellinthetruth
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 2:22 a.m.
Yes it is sad that a father died, but honestly if he was such a great father like some make him out to be, why was he selling drugs?? To better the life of his child? No, to make a dollar, plain and simple. He obviously didn't care about his child too much, otherwise he wouldnt have put his life or his baby's mama in that situation. I am not saying he deserved to die, I am just saying that I am sick and tired of people making him out to be this wonderful great person just because he died. What about the person and his family that got stuck in the middle of something that he had no control over and who tried to help, but had no choice but to get shot himself? What about this person who was stuck in the middle's mother and father who lost a son over some nonsense? Does anyone think about them? No they only think about the dope deal gone bad. The shooter does need to spend the rest of his life in prison for taking a life, but only 1 person killed him. Not all of them are guilty. Only the one with the gun in his hands should rot in hell for what he did. If everyone would stop and think about the situation and if they knew the truth about what happened that night, then maybe they wouldnt be so quick to judge the others there.
lefty48197
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
The guy that drove the killer to the scene and then drove him away from the scene will likely be charged with murder too. If the third guy turns out to have been in volved in a conspiracy such as "setting up" the deal, then he too can be charged with murder. Yes, the guy was selling weed to make money. People that have children make money to raise their children. He could have been selling a bicycle when he got murdered. It's the sociopaths that committed this murder, not the victim or the bag of weed.
obviouscomment
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:49 a.m.
who is this mystery person in the middle? maybe you are confused about the story because there was never a report about another person being shot after trying to help...
Peggy
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 1:38 a.m.
Gramma, I don't see where it says that the child was present at the drug deal, only that the girlfriend, Ms. Collinsworth, was present. I do agree with you that the fact that he was a father was not necessary information.
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
As a father having a daughter, I know how dads feel about their little girls. It, to me, is the ultimate tragedy when someone steals the life of such a father and damages forever that little girl. Anyone who does what Willie Walker is alleged to have done is beneath contempt. If Walker is fairly tried and convicted, I hope the sentencing is as harsh as possible under the law. My deepest sympathy goes out to Ms. Collinsworth. May she receive all the help and blessings she deserves in raising her daughter.
Angela Henry
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 11:28 p.m.
Rest in peace Hoover... I hope the court system gives this family justice..