Walker: No longer feels anger toward son's killer

Dick Walker, the father of Michael “Pee Wee” Walker, said he has forgiven Adam Kelly Ward, the man who shot and killed his son almost 11 years ago.

“You have to forgive to be forgiven,” Walker said Saturday, admitting the past few years have not been easy, as Ward drew closer to his execution date.

That day is Tuesday.

Walker said he is aware of two appeals still pending before the United States Supreme Court.

“And we probably won’t know how that turns out until a few hours before,” Walker said.

Ward is set to face death by lethal injection Tuesday evening, after being convicted of capital murder in 2007.

The younger Walker was working as a code enforcement officer for the City of Commerce and shortly after 10 a.m. on June 13, 2005 he was taking photos of alleged code violations at the home where Ward lived on Caddo Street.

The two engaged in a verbal altercation, which ended when Ward shot Walker as many as nine times with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

“Pee Wee was begging for his life and he kept shooting,” Walker said.

Dick Walker was working with the Commerce Emergency Corps that day and was among the first to arrive on the scene of the shooting.

“Ten-and-a-half years, that’s crazy,” Dick Walker said of the time spent waiting for the execution date to arrive and of the number of appeals filed in the case. “I, my family and Pee Wee’s close friends have been going through hell.”

Barring any last-minutes stays, Walker intends to witness the execution alongside former Hunt County District Attorney and current County Court at Law No. 2 Judge F. Duncan Thomas; Assistant District Attorney Keli Aiken, who was one of the prosecutors in the case; Commerce Police Chief Kerry Crews and a few friends and family members.

A group of Michael Walker’s high school friends also plan to make the trip to show their support.

Walker  noted Aiken has been especially helpful and supportive, calling at least once a month to check on how he is doing and update him on the appeals process.

Today, Dick Walker intends to celebrate Easter early, alongside Michael’s children Donovan and Marissa, who still miss their father.

“Your grandkids are now 19 and 21 and when they break down and start crying, it tears you up,” he said.

Following the execution, Walker said he intends to get away for a while.

“And try to get my head straight that this bad part of my life is over with,” he said, although he wished to thank all of those who have shown their compassion in recent weeks.

“Prayer and friendship has been so important in these times,” Walker said. “I live in an amazing town. Commerce is an amazing town.”

Walker said he no longer feels any hostility toward Ward.

“It took me eight years to get rid of the anger that I had and I am through with the anger,” he said.

In fact, Walker has prayed for Ward’s salvation.

“I prayed that when he takes his last breath here, he takes his next breath in a better place,” he said.