Man Faces Multiple Charges for Murder of a University of California Student
Photo: Tony L. Walker
BERKELEY — A man with a criminal history is facing multiple charges for the murder of a University of California student. The victim was fatally shot in the back of the head, one block away from where the suspect lives.
The victim 19-year-old Seth Smith was walking by the suspect when he was shot at close range. Smith was found lying on the sidewalk on June 15 at 11:34 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect 60-year-old Tony L. Walker was standing outside when officers arrived at his residence to arrest him. Walker was taken into custody on August 20 at 1:20 p.m. He remains at Santa Rita Jail with bond for release denied, pending a plea hearing on September 9.
Walker faces charges for murder and eight other weapons-related charges. If convicted, Walker faces sentencing in state prison because he has several prior violent felony convictions.
Walker’s arrest record goes back to 1979, when he was arrested for the first time at age 18. He has six prior arrests for robberies, in addition to arrests for burglaries, assault with a deadly weapon, and other offenses. Last year, Walker was arrested for an attempted burglary of his neighbor.
Walker was on probation at the time of his most recent arrests. He was sentenced in 2016 to probation for five years for illegal possession of a firearm by a narcotics addict.
He has been in county jail several times and spent three years in state prison for assault with a deadly weapon.
