AndrewBlakeTampa, FL – The McDonald’s manager who gave police the tip that led to the arrest of the suspected serial killer will get the full $110,000 reward.
McDonald’s employee Delonda Walker told police about the gun used in four Tampa murders, but didn’t report her tip through the city’s official tip line – Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, according to the New York Post.
That led Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay to initially say they were not going to give $5,000 of the total reward to Walker.
“It did not meet the Crime Stoppers category for the $5,000 on our part to be paid out,” Debbie Carter, President of Crime Stoppers Tampa Bay, told WFTS TV. “The person has to call through the tip line, mobile app or the website to be eligible for the reward.”
But Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay reversed that decision and said it would pay out the $5,000 after being criticized over the initial ruling.
“She will receive all $110,000,” Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters.
CNN reported that Walker has received about half of the $110,000 reward, according to Christina Barker, an assistant to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Walker worked with Howell Donaldson, the suspected serial killer. Donaldson gave Walker a bag for safekeeping which contained the gun that had been used in the four killings that occurred from Oct. 9 to Nov.14.
Police had spent weeks looking for the killer in the Seminole Heights neighborhood where the shootings took place.
Walker released a statement to the media.
“I went to work on Tuesday intending to serve customers and do my job. The day turned out very differently,” the statement said. “When confronted with this situation, I wanted to do the right thing and I reached out to a nearby police officer. Receiving a reward never entered my mind. Looking back, I am grateful to know I was helpful in assisting law enforcement . . . Please know I appreciate all the well wishes and the kind words of our community.”