Funeral arrangements set for Ofc. Walker; $118K reward in murder

PHILADELPHIA - August 22, 2012 (WPVI) -- Funeral arrangements for Officer Moses Walker Jr. were announced Tuesday, the same day police released new video of the suspects in his killing.

The viewing for Officer Walker will be held on Sunday, August 26, at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, located at 2001 Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia starting at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

On Monday, August 27, from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., a public viewing will be held at the Deliverance Evangelistic Church.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Committal Services will be held following the service at Fernwood Cemetery, located at 6501 Baltimore Avenue in Lansdowne, Pa.

Officer Walker, 40, was slain during a stickup by two men as he walked from his North Philadelphia police precinct to a bus stop at around 6:00 a.m. Saturday. He had just finished his shift and wasn't in uniform, clad instead in shorts and a baseball cap and a large backpack on his shoulders.

The new piece of video released Tuesday morning shows the suspects walking northbound on 19th Street, just before they get to Cecil B. Moore Avenue, where the murder took place a few minutes later.

RELATED: Watch the video on the PhillyPolice.com YouTube channel

Police believe the bald-headed suspect in the video is the gunman, and police also believe the pair live in the area. They were described as:

Suspect #1: Black male, bald head possibly with a beard or goatee, wearing a light colored hooded sweatshirt and dark colored shorts.

Suspect #2: Black male, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and dark colored shorts.

The reward fund for information leading to Officer Walker's killer now stands at $118,000.

"These guys will rob again, these guys will kill again if they are not taken off the streets," said Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey during the news conference.

If you have any information about the suspect or the crime you can submit a tip by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8677), text TIP to PPD TIP (773847) or through phillypolice.com.

A previous piece of video was released in a news conference on Monday morning.

RELATED: Watch the video on the PhillyPolice.com YouTube channel

"He looked like a young civilian walking down the street, and we think that's why he was targeted," said Capt. James Clark, head of the homicide unit, on Monday.

The four-minute video shows Walker looking over his shoulder several times as he walks along a streetlight-illuminated sidewalk, followed by grainy footage of two men walking behind him, first on the opposite side of the street and then crossing over. Out of the camera's view further down the block, the 19-year police department veteran was shot.

A third man in the video, who police believe had no involvement in the crime, was a witness to the shooting and gave police some details about what happened.

"Two males approached (Walker), one of which had a gun, a robbery was announced and he demanded money," Clark said. "During this time, the officer attempted to pull out his off-duty weapon ... one of the males fired, striking him three times: once in the chest, once in the stomach and once in the hand."

Ofc. Walker, who was unmarried and had no children, was pronounced dead at a hospital in a city where on average nearly one person has been slain every day this year.

Earlier Monday, police pulled over a white Chevy in North Philadelphia and took a person into custody. That person was wanted for a similar armed robbery in the area. While police say they have not made a connection to Officer Walker's killing, they wanted to question that person.

Clark said three or four armed holdups fitting a similar pattern have occurred in the area over the last couple of months and added that the killers probably live near the scene of the crime.

"We know people out there know who they are," he said.

Meantime, activists with Ceasefire Philadelphia converged on North Philadelphia putting up posters urging an end to the violence citywide.

"This happens every day. There's people dying every day so it's about getting the message out there and putting your foot down to come on up," Nortavin Rogers of Ceasefire Philadelphia said.

The Guardian Angels came in from Washington DC and hit the streets of North Philadelphia wearing their signature red berets. They are working to reorganize their citizens' crime fighting effort in this city.

They handed out flyers telling neighbors it's time to speak up, the days of "don't snitch" are over.

"We're trying to let people know it's time to get rid of that campaign. It's time to start opening your mouth and tell police what's going on. Stop protecting the criminals," John Ayala of the Guarian Angels said.

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