Trial slated for 2 in Philly police officer death

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Two men charged in the shooting death of an off-duty Philadelphia police officer were set to go on trial this week.

Chancier McFarland, who turns 21 Friday, and 24-year-old Rafael Jones are charged in the August 2012 shooting death of officer Moses Walker Jr.

Authorities allege that they shot and killed Walker, a 19-year police veteran, during a robbery as he walked home in north Philadelphia in August 2012. WCAU-TV (https://bit.ly/TPAtv2 ) reported that each has accused the other of shooting Walker.

Walker, 40, had changed into street clothes after an overnight shift and was walking to a bus stop when two men crossed the street and tried to rob him. He had time only to draw his gun before he was shot in the chest, stomach and arm, authorities said. Police said the robbery attempt was similar to several other armed holdups in the area in the preceding months.

A parole officer and two supervisors were fired over the supervision of Jones, who was on parole and had failed a drug test days before the slaying. They have fought to get their jobs back, saying they were scapegoats.

A federal lawsuit filed by Walker’s family blaming the parole board for his death was dismissed by a judge, but Walker’s mother said she planned to appeal.

Walker, a church deacon who was also survived by five siblings, had planned to retire in 2013.

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Information from: WCAU-TV, https://www.nbc10.com