The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has apprehended 32-year-old Matt Walker, a suspect in an Akron drive-by shooting that left a woman seriously injured earlier this year, as confirmed by WKYC and multiple other sources. Yesterday, in a coordinated effort by U.S. Marshals and local authorities, Walker was captured on the 1100 block of Becker Lane, where officials also recovered a 9mm "untraceable" handgun at the time of his arrest, WKYC reported.
The charges facing Walker include felonious assault, domestic violence, strangulation, and parole violations following the Oct. 22 incident, where officials say a female victim was sitting on her porch on West Miller Road when she was struck by gunfire and sustained serious injuries but survived according to FOX8. Walker was already under supervision for having weapons while under disability, noted by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
Upon his arrest, Walker was booked into the Summit County Jail with U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott emphasizing the significance of the operation, stating via FOX8, "A dangerous and violent fugitive, with no regard for the Akron community and its citizens, is now behind bars," and adding, "A fugitive who is under supervision for weapons violations, wanted for new weapons-related offenses, and found with a firearm at the time of his arrest is exactly who needs to be taken off the streets to protect our communities," as Cleveland19 detailed.
Authorities have encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any pertinent information regarding wanted fugitives. The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force remains committed to capturing those who pose a threat to community safety, with a hotline available at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) for anonymous tips, as mentioned by FOX8, which may also lead to a reward for information that culminates in the arrest of violent criminals.
