Walker copes with life in wheelchair after robbery: Says he’s not bitter but glad arrest has been made
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“I never have been angry,” Walker said. “I knew God had a purpose so I put myself in his hands. I was more afraid that the person or persons who did this to me, might do the same thing to someone else.”
The wait for a measure of justice came to at least a partial ending last week when Roger Dale Tackett was arrested and charged with the robbery and shooting of Walker nearly 13 years ago. Tackett, along with two other suspects, were arrested for the crime 12 years ago but later released due to lack of evidence.
Walker was paralyzed from the waist down when he was shot in the neck during a robbery while he was opening his service station on Sparta Highway on the morning of Dec. 19, 1990.
“At first, I thought I’d been electrocuted because I could feel electricity running through my body,” Walker recalled as the round from the .22-caliber gun hit his spinal cord. “Once I was down on the cold pavement, I knew I’d been shot and I knew I was hurt worse than I had thought because I couldn’t move my legs. I saw the guy reach down and take the strong box and run off around the building.”
Walker noted he did not get a good look at his attacker, who must have been hiding around the side of his gas station waiting on him. Walker said he has undergone hypnosis and numerous interviews in hopes of recalling something he had overlooked about the morning of his attack.
What followed were years of adjustments to life without the use of his legs. It began with months of rehabilitative therapy at a special clinic.
“The first couple of years, adjusting to it was a problem,” Walker said.
“We had to overcome a lot of obstacles and rely on the Lord day by day,” said Walker. “I couldn’t have done it without my wife (Sherry) who was always there for me.”
Walker noted he has come a long way in the nearly 13 years since the shooting.
“There really isn’t much today that I can’t do,” Walker said. “Sure, I may not be able to reach stuff on the top shelf or things like that, but I can drive and get around and I’m also thankful I’ve had good health otherwise.”
Given the recent arrest, Walker said there were times when he had about given up on the chance of anyone ever being charged for the crime.
“They kept telling me they were working on it and Sheriff Matheny told me he wasn’t going to give up,” Walker said. “There were days I thought it wasn’t going to happen because it had been so long.”
While not angry toward his shooter, Walker said he wants his attacker or attackers to face justice.
“I’m glad it’s finally happened and justice is going to be served this time I believe,” Walker said. “Hopefully they will be able to get any others who were involved too.”