A McDonald’s manager who handed police a loaded gun that led to the arrest of a suspected Tampa, Fla.-area serial killer will get big money for her actions.
Delonda Walker, a manager of McDonald’s, was given the gun by Howell Donaldson III, an employee at the same McDonald’s, for “safekeeping.” She said that Donaldson told her he was going to leave the state, according to CNN.
On Tuesday, the same day Donaldson gave it to her, Walker gave police the loaded .40-caliber Glock, and they arrested the 24-year-old Howell shortly thereafter.
Police say Donaldson is the man behind four unrelated shootings in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of the city.
As reported earlier by The Root, Donaldson’s third alleged victim was a 20-year-old with autism, Anthony Naiboa, who had taken the wrong bus home. By the time Howell was taken into custody, he was accused of killing Naiboa, Monica Hoffa, Benjamin Mitchell and Ronald Felton.
He faces four counts of first-degree murder.
The family of 32-year-old victim Monica Hoffa met with Walker this week to express their gratitude to her for closing a sad chapter in their family’s history.
“She took all of that worry that was out there away, and she made us all whole again,” said Kenny Hoffa, Monica’s father. “She’s a hero to all of us and our family. She’s part of our family now.”
CNN reports that Walker has already received about half of the $110,000 reward, which came from various organizations, including $50,000 from the FBI, $20,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and $10,000 from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A local businessman and Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay also contributed to the reward.
Walker has not spoken to the press directly and only released a statement, saying, “I am ... appreciative of the outpouring of support from the community. My thoughts are focused on the victims and their families and out of respect for them and the active investigation, please direct inquiries to the Tampa Police Department.”
Read more at CNN.