MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the first time we have heard from people close to a Navy veteran who police say shot at them, killed his brother and then killed himself.
A source close to the case told WREG Deandre Walker was suffering form anxiety after getting out of the Navy, but friends said if that’s true, he hid it well.
“I just didn’t see it coming at all. He always talked about his siblings, so I don’t know what happened,” said Sean Leroy.
Over FaceTime from California, he told WREG what he knew about his close friend.
The two served overseas for three years.
Walker was known as a jokester.
He said he was the funny guy who could instantly cheer you up.
“He never had an episode,” said Leory.
It’s why Leory was so confused.
Police said a 911 call sent them to a home on Kemper Tuesday where Walker started firing through a garage, hitting an officer in the foot and leading to a standoff which lasted several hours.
Officers said when they finally got into the home, they discovered Walker killed his brother, Marcus, and then turned the gun on himself.
“That’s s the only thing I can maybe think of is that he might’ve been depressed. A little bit after your first year of getting out of the Navy,” said Leroy.
Fellow servicemen said it may also have been his daughter who is still currently overseas with her mom.
“This man lived for his daughter like that was his everything,” said Deandre Peterson.
We may never know what Walker was thinking, what caused his anxiety, and what lead to this tragedy.