A quick-thinking McDonald’s manager in Tampa is being hailed a hero after her killer instinct stopped a hunted serial killer in his tracks last Tuesday.
When 24-year-old crew leader Howell Emanuel Donaldson III asked his boss, Delonda Walker, to hold a food bag for him while he went to the Amscot money superstore for a payday loan, she suspected something fishy was up—particularly per his remarks about leaving the state of Florida.
Upon opening the bag, Walker discovered a fully-loaded semiautomatic pistol.
In serendipitous timing, a police officer happened to be in the restaurant, so Walker alerted him to call for backup. When Donaldson got back, he was greeted by a crew of officers who quickly identified the gun in his bag as the murder weapon that killed four Tampa residents since early October.
The Tampa police department announced on Tuesday that Donaldson would be charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the fatal shootings of Benjamin Mitchell (22), Monica Hoffa (32), Anthony Naiboa (20) and Ronald Felton (60) in the Seminole Heights neighborhood. He may face the death penalty.
Impressed by her brave efforts and spot-on intuition, Walker has been praised by the likes of the mayor, police chief and entire surrounding community.
“We are a safer community because Ms. Walker did the right thing,” remarked Mayor Bob Buckhorn, noting his relief that the six-week manhunt is finally over.
“Fifty-one days ago I said this was a struggle between good and evil,” he added. “Well, tonight goodness has won.”