RFP Staff
♦ The Spencer Police Department along with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) arrested Kenneth Wayne Abel, Jr., 27, 702 Candlewick Drive, Salisbury, N.C. and charged him with 2 counts of felony murder. This arrest stems from a double homicide occurring in Spencer on October 8th where Antonio “Tony” Walker and James “Junior” Walker Jr. were slain. Sources close to the investigation called the motive robbery, but were unable to give specific details at this time.
Abel, brought before the Rowan County Magistrate’s office Wednesday evening, is now being held without bond at the Rowan County Detention Center. He is expected in court on Thursday.
According to police sources other arrests are expected in the near future.
Abel was previously arrested in 2012 and charged with failure to appear and comply.
From the Rowan Free Press on October 9th:
“Spencer Police sources reported a double homicide during a home invasion shooting in the 600 block of Fifth Street in Spencer, N.C. around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday evening the 8th of October.
Family members identified the robbery- shooting victims as James Walker, Jr, 44 (known to his family and friends as Junior Walker))and Tony Walker, 29.
Spencer and East Spencer Police vehicles arrived on the scene and the street was quickly cordoned off. Investigators were speaking with neighbors as small knots of bystanders gathered in the area.
Area residents spoke highly of the murder victims and were both saddened and angered to learn of their deaths.
This afternoon sources in Spencer claim 3 men donning gorilla masks and wearing gloves and camouflage stormed into the house, demanding “Tony” Walker by name before they shot him in the bedroom. James “Junior” Walker drew his gun before being beaten by a robber’s handgun and shot to death. Tony staggered into the living room and died beside “Junior”.
Later Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and SBI investigators arrived on the scene.
Investigators believe they have several good leads in the case, yet none good enough to act upon at this point. Investigators maintained the robbery was not a random crime and that the victims were specifically targeted. The investigators hold that robbery was the motive and the victims were not random. They believe there was a specific reason why the victims were targeted, but can’t offer specifics at this time.
If you have any information or anonymous tips about this homicide-robbery call the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.
***This article will be updated as more information becomes available.***
