Jury Acquits Man In Cherokee Mechanic's Murder

WOODSTOCK, GA -- A jury has acquitted a Florida man on charges he murdered a mechanic following an argument outside a mechanic shop in September 2015.

The jury on Saturday, April 29 acquitted Alexander Demar Walkine on charges of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, court records show.

Walkine was arrested following the fatal shooting, which police say stemmed from an argument he allegedly had with Doug Eriquezzo, 43, of Acworth.

Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a person shot around 5 p.m. Sept. 16, 2015, at a business located at 5733 Bells Ferry Road in unincorporated Acworth. This place rents out bays to individual mechanics to make car repairs, Lt. Jay Baker with the sheriff’s office previously told Patch.

Deputies found Eriquezzo “lying in the parking lot of the business with two gunshot wounds,” Baker said.

Walkine was located and taken into custody without incident. Witnesses told deputies both men were arguing when the defendant allegedly walked to his car, pulled out a firearm and fatally shot Eriquezzo, the sheriff's office previously reported to Patch.

Walkine’s six-year-old child and five-month-old infant were also inside the car at the time of the shooting, Baker stated. Eriquezzo was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Walkine was later indicted on the charges in December 2015.

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