Attorney faces attempted murder charge

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

Walker was annoyed by noise at a neighborhood Super Bowl Party.

A certified civil mediator, Robert Walker was anything but on Super Bowl Sunday.

A high-profile attorney with a case history of working as a mediator and with the state attorney's office now stands accused of attempted murder. And it all began with a Super Bowl party.

That's when the Belleair Police Department said Walker grabbed his handgun and walked to a neighbor's home across the street, all because he was annoyed about the noise stemming from a Super Bowl party.

"There was a Super Bowl Party. A neighbor a couple of doors away. He (Walker) walked over to the residence,'' said Belleair Police Department Chief Tom Edwards. "He had a hand gun and as two people were exiting the party, he approached them and pointed the hand gun at them."

Walker told police he walked over to the neighbor's house, intending only to shoot the gun into the ground. But that's not how events unfolded.

More Information

"One of them was able to push the gun away from their direction and try and take him to the ground,'' said Edwards. "In the process of doing that, the gun discharged one time."

No one was injured.

Now in addition to an attempted murder charge, the 59-year-old Walker also faces a charge of using a handgun under the influence of alcohol.

His professional status also is in limbo.

Walker went to this house on Pine Road with a handgun.

Walker, who was released from jail the following day, is listed as a former police officer on his website. His background also includes stints as a public safety trainer for officers, an assistant city attorney and state attorney and a contracted special counsel for Pinellas County Schools.

"The school district at this time is not in a point in time where they can make a judgement about a continued professional relationship with Mr. Walker," said Andrea Zahn, with Pinellas County Schools.

Walker, currently working a case for the school system, has not received any disciplinary action yet from the Florida Bar.

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

Subscribe for free!

Valentine's Day

Do you have a romantic Valentine's Day story? Or a funny one? What about a nightmarish one? We want to hear them! Send them to us and we may use them in a story on BayNews9.com.