27-year-old man killed while attempting to rob supermarket

Allen Walker, 27, who was among four men who attempted to rob a supermarket in Barataria yesterday morning, was shot dead by the owner of a licensed firearm.

At the scene at 6th Avenue, relatives told Newsday that Walker came out from prison in May after serving a sentence for gun and ammunition-related charges. They said that he was known for his criminal behaviour.

“That boy never listened. He was a pest. I loved him, and he was a very loving person to me, but he was a pest.”

At about 7.15 am, Walker and three men, dressed in CEPEP uniforms, entered the supermarket and announced a hold-up. The men snatched cash from the register but, before they could escape, someone with a licensed firearm challenged them and a shootout ensued.

Walker was shot and he died at the scene. The man who shot him was also wounded and taken to hospital where he is said to be in critical condition.

One of Walker’s relatives said she wants to apologse to the owners of the supermarket but she does not know how they would react.

“If they lash out at me, it would hurt me even more. I was tired of telling him about this bad-boy life he was living. How could you shoot a man and take what is not yours?”

The relative told Newsday Walker had a troubled life since his mother died in his arms when he was six years old. Since then he had been taken care of by other family members but slowly got into a life of crime.

Three years ago he was held on a gun and ammunition charge, but on May 5, he was freed.

Relatives pleaded with him not to get back into the criminal life, and he made a promise that he would turn over a new leaf.

“He told me he did not want to go back to jail, and he did not want to die.” said the relative, “I even spoke to him yesterday (Sunday) because I was getting a bad vibe. He said that he had gotten a job at CEPEP and he would be able to help me with my thanksgiving celebrations. I did not know this was what he meant when he said CEPEP work.”