Three-Day Search For Suspect Accused Of Punching Man At Publix Ends In Arrest

POLK COUNTY, FL — A man seen on surveillance video punching a 73-year-old victim multiple times in a Winter Haven Publix parking lot turned himself in to the Polk County Jail Tuesday morning, Winter Haven police said.

Donald Ray Walker 43, is accused by police of pummeling a 73-year-old man outside a Publix in the Southeast Plaza off Cypress Gardens Boulevard Saturday afternoon following an argument the two had when the victim yelled at him and accused him of speeding through the parking lot, and he accused Walker of almost hitting him with the truck he drove, officers said.

Video surveillance footage from the parking lot showed the suspect getting out of his truck and hitting the victim multiple times. The victim is seen in the video falling to the ground.

Following the incident, police did not know the identity of the man seen in the video with the 73-year-old man. Officers identified Walker Monday through video footage that showed him leaving the ChinaBuffet near Publix just before the incident occurred, police said.

Police have not released the charges Walker faces.

Related Patch Story:

• Man Pummeling Victim Outside Publix Identified In Video: Police