Local News

NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ― 12 people, including an injured man, were questioned by Miami police in connection to the murder of one of their own Tuesday morning after  30-year old James Walker, was with the force since 2000, was found shot to death in his unmarked police car at 1801 Northeast 164th Street.

"Every time a police officer gets gunned down, it's all hands on deck," said Police Chief John Timoney, who rushed back from vacation to oversee the investigation into Walker's death..

Miami police said  Walker, who worked in the domestic violence division, had been cleared from duty at 11:00 p.m. Monday night and they are not sure why he was in North Miami Beach.

"We don't know why he was here," said Miami police spokesman Lt. Bill Schwartz, "Perhaps he came upon something that required police action."

"We don't know what trouble he got into but he got into trouble," Schwartz said.

Walker was shot multiple times with a high-powered weapon.

"There were casings everywhere," said Lt. Schwartz. "In addition, there were blood trails leading off in different directions away from the car which seems to indicate others were injured.

"The car had been shot multiple times, and Walker also shot, we don't know how many times."

Walker's ex-wife lived in the area where he was found, said John Randle, the detective's brother-in-law. "I don't know what he was doing in this alley," Randle told The Associated Press. "He was a good, humble guy. He was no trouble. I can't tell you no flaws."

A woman who lives nearby said she heard the gunshots, and saw 3 men running from the scene carrying a rifle.

Officers from the city of Miami and North Miami Beach police departments joined FBI agents searching the area for clues that could lead to any suspects.

Among those clues is a 2001-2007 white Ford Taurus. Police say the right rear side of the car has damage and bullet holes and may be connected to the death of officer Walker.

Nearly 12 hours after the shooting and murder, police officers removed the body from the vehicle and transferred it to the Miami Dade Medical Examiner's office.

The body of Detective Walker was moved from the murder scene on a gurney draped with an American flag, and placed aboard a Miami Fire Rescue ambulance for the trip.

As Walker's body was being transferred a City of Miami police officer escorting the body on I-95  was struck by a car and  knocked off his motorcycle.

The injured officer was hospitalized and treated for minor injures before he was released later in the day.

While police were searching for clues on the scene, CBS4's Ileana Varela reported they discovered a high powered weapon.

Schwartz said Walker's murder would be jointly investigated by the Miami Police Department and the North Miami Beach Police Department.

Walker's death is the fourth fatal shooting of a South Florida law enforcement officer in the past six months.

Miami-Dade police officer Jose Somohano was fatally shot in shootout with a suspect in September.

Broward sheriff's deputy Chris Reyka was fatally shot in August while looking for stolen vehicles behind a drug store, and BSO deputy Paul Rein was shot with his own weapon while transporting an inmate to court in November.

"I want justice done, said John Randell, Walker's brother-in-law. "We are really searching for the suspects, the police officers are looking for you and the family."

The Miami chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police said it would offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

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