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Suspect In Miami Officer's Slaying Is In Custody

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By JENNIFER KAY, The Associated Press

Published: January 10, 2008

MIAMI - A gang member in custody accused of firing his AK-47 as he ran through a North Miami Beach apartment complex is considered the main suspect in the shooting death of a police detective, officials said Wednesday.

Ricardo Ajuste, 21, has not been charged with Miami police Detective James Walker's death, as authorities continue building their case. He was being held without bail set. Neither jail nor court records listed an attorney.

Ajuste was arrested early Wednesday on two counts of attempted murder with a firearm because he opened fire Tuesday on a couple in a car near Walker's vehicle, police Lt. Bill Schwartz said.

He continued firing as he ran through the apartment complex, and Walker apparently was caught in the crossfire, Schwartz said.

Walker was found slumped over the wheel of his unmarked patrol car with his service weapon in his hand, Schwartz said. The weapon had been fired. Walker was shot multiple times with a high-powered weapon, police said.

An AK-47 was found at the scene. Police were analyzing fingerprints and comparing the weapon with bullets taken from Walker's body to see whether they match.

"If it all matches up with Ajuste, he'll go from being a suspect to being charged with the murder of Detective Walker," Schwartz said.

Walker was off-duty and had stopped at the apartment complex to visit his estranged wife, Schwartz said.

Before his arrival, Ajuste "in an apparent jealous rage" opened fire with his AK-47 on a man and a woman inside a car, Schwartz said. The couple fled, and Ajuste ran after them while continuing to fire his weapon, police said.

Walker likely heard the shots because he was found with his weapon in hand, Schwartz said.

The detective did not radio for help.

"We think everything happened way too fast," Schwartz said. "Even though he was off the clock, it appears this was a line-of-duty death."

The relationship between the couple in the car and Ajuste was not clear. The man was wounded in the arm, and was questioned by police as a witness and victim, Schwartz said.

Ajuste is a member of a gang that operates out of the apartment complex, Schwartz said.

A tip led to Ajuste's arrest, police said.

Court records show Ajuste has more than a dozen previous arrests on charges including marijuana possession, lewd and lascivious battery on a child, trespassing and burglary.

Walker's death is the fourth fatal shooting of a South Florida law enforcement officer since August.

A Miami-Dade County police officer was killed in a shootout, while two Broward County sheriff's deputies were shot fatally in separate incidents.

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