Man charged in cop slaying; police close in on 2nd suspect

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. — Prosecutors have now charged a 23-year-old man with murdering Philadelphia Police Officer Moses Walker Jr., and identified his alleged accomplice.

Police say Rafael Jones fired the weapon that killed Philadelphia Police Officer Moses Walker, Jr. Jones was arrested Wednesday by U.S. marshals and Philadelphia homicide detectives. He was hiding at an apartment complex in the Southwest Philly neighborhood of Bartram Village.

Offically charging him with murder and robbery, police say Jones has been “well known” within the department as a violent character. Jones walked out of prison on Aug. 8, just 10 days before Walker’s killing. He was there on a gun charge, which violated his probation from a previous conviction on weapons charges.

At police headquarters Friday, Commissioner Charles Ramsey was asked about Jones’ motive for the murder.

“I don’t know what was on his mind, but he’s a violent thug. Thank god we have him,” Ramsey said. “Thank god he won’t be able to harm anybody else. And this time, perhaps the system will put him away for the rest of his miserable life.”

Questions have arisen about why Jones was on Cecil. B. Moore street Saturday morning, after a judge had ordered him to be placed on house arrest on electronic monitoring. All Ramsey would say is that he wishes Jones wasn’t on the street last week.

“I don’t want to get into all the side stuff. Right now our focus is simple, is getting the second person in custody so we can wrap this up. And the rest of it can be sorted out over the days and weeks, I imagine, to come,” Ramsey said.

Second suspect

Police have also revealed the name of the second suspect in the case. North Philadelphia’s Chancier McFarland is still on the run and considered armed and extremely dangerous.

At a Friday press conference, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey urged the 19-year-old to turn himself in.

“I don’t think you want our fugitive task force or our swat team to come and get you, but that’s exactly what will happen if you do not turn yourself in,” said Ramsey.

Police say Jones and McFarland shot and killed Walker early last Saturday morning when the officer was on his way home from the late shift.

Earlier this week, police publicly released surveillance footage of the two men and offered a $118,000 reward for information on the case. Homicide captain James Clark said the reward money led to plenty of tips.

“Any time you’re talking about that amount of money, you’re gonna have people reach out,” said Clark.

Clark confirmed that someone would receive the reward.

Further tips on the whereabouts of Chancier McFarland can be offered to police at 215-686-3334.