Man Sentenced To Prison In Fatal DeKalb Shooting That Injured Officer

DECATUR — A Lithonia man accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend while injuring a DeKalb County police officer was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced Wednesday in a news release.

According to the release, Otis Dennis Walker, 32, was convicted on Sept. 26 of murder and other charges in connection with the Aug. 1, 2019 fatal shooting.

The deadly shooting happened at a Hodgdon Corners Cove home in the early morning hours, when officers responded to a person shot call. When officers approached, Walker was accused of shooting at them, hitting the wounded officer four times.

"The officers retreated, SWAT was activated and they re-approached the residence to check on the shooting victim," read the release.

Aleka Simmons, Walker's 27-year-old girlfriend, was found in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the release. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.

The officer who had been shot was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries, the release said. He has since recovered from his injuries, the release said.

A week later, after a manhunt, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force and DeKalb County Police Department arrested Walker, the release said.

"On his person was a signed apology to (the officer) and DKPD for his actions. At trial, Defendant Walker claimed he acted in self-defense when he shot Simmons. Additionally, he insisted that he only shot toward the ground at responding officers to provoke them to shoot and kill him. This was disproved by the shots that hit (the officer) and a shot that pierced the second floor of a neighboring home," the release said.

Walker was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, the release said.

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith sentenced Walker to life without parole plus 65 years to serve consecutively, the release said.