Schaul Street murder suspect waives initial appearance

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)— Monday, the man accused of killing a Columbus woman in front of six of her own children waived his appearance in Recorder’s Court.

Walter Young was named as a suspect in the March killing of 31-year-old Shantavia Walden and aggravated assault of Gerald Ford. Arrest warrants were issued for Young. He was arrested on April 8 in Montgomery, Alabama. Public Defender Sheneka Terry represented Young; she entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Sgt. Mike Dahnke with the Columbus Police Department testified Young and Walden had gotten into an argument in her vehicle. Sgt. Dahnke said six of Walden’s children were in the car during the argument that led to the shooting.

“Our follow up investigation revealed that on the way back from a Crystal’s located at 412 13th Street, an argument between Shantavia and the defendant, Walter Jermaine Young, ensued because she would not let the defendant use a vehicle that day or that night,” Sgt. Dahnke testified. “The children were actually videotaping this altercation, verbal altercation. The defendant continues, but the background noise of the video drowns out the remainder of the statement. The defendant exits the vehicle and shoots the victim with a pistol. Gerald, who was doing lawn care at the 2509 or the adjacent house comes over and is then shot by the defendant on the west side of the residence. The children were present and witnessed the shooting of their mother.”

Gerald Ford is still receiving care at Piedmont Columbus Regional; he is no longer listed as in critical condition.

In addition to the videos recorded by Walden’s children, Young was identified by three of the children and Ford in follow-up interviews.

“Our intent was to show [Ford] a photograph of lineups. [Ford] had not had any type of medication that would affect his cognitive abilities, and he identified the defendant as the person who had shot him,” Sgt. Dahnke testified. “Sgt. Baker asked Gerald, on a scale of 1 to 100, how positive he was he remembered his identification, and he replied, 100.”

Young is facing the following charges:

• Murder

• Aggravated Assault

• Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime

• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

• Cruelty to Childre 3rd Degree (6 counts)

Chief Judge David Ranieri bound the case over to Superior Court. Young was ordered to be held without bond on all felony charges, a $10,000 bond was ordered for all misdemeanor charges.

Previous Report

March 16, 2024: UPDATE: Suspect arrested in deadly Schaul Street shooting | WRBL

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