On a tragic Sunday evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 24, 2004, the life of 17-year-old Alan Paul Lowrie was cut short by an act of gun violence. A junior at Pius XI High School and a dedicated employee at a local Arby's restaurant, Alan was working alongside his 24-year-old colleague, Nicole Chartré Joslyn, when the unimaginable unfolded. The night took a dark turn when two individuals entered the establishment, not as customers, but with the intent of armed robbery.
The events that transpired resulted in the shooting deaths of both young employees.
The investigation into the double homicide soon pointed to a former employee of the Arby's, James C. Walker. Having been fired from the restaurant just a week prior, Walker was reportedly angry and sought to rob the establishment. He enlisted the help of another employee, Michael Reit, who provided him with the pin numbers that Lowrie and Joslyn used to clock out. On the night of the murders, Reit let Walker into the restaurant after closing time. Another man, who was with Walker, also entered the building.
In the aftermath of the crime, a crucial witness, Juanita Howell, came forward with information. She testified to being with Walker shortly after the murders when a news report about the incident came on television. According to Howell, Walker's sister began to cry and questioned why it had to happen, to which Walker allegedly responded that he "had to because they kn w him.” This testimony, along with other evidence, proved vital for the prosecution. Walker was arrested while he was a passenger in a black Lincoln Navigator, a vehicle that matched the description of a sport utility vehicle seen in the Arby's parking lot on the night of the crime.
During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence against James C. Walker. A DNA analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory confirmed that a bloodstain found on one of Walker's shoes contained DNA that matched Alan Lowrie's blood. The accomplice, Michael Reit, testified against Walker in exchange for a plea deal on two counts of felony murder. The jury was also presented with financial evidence, showing that in the days following the robbery of $3,258 from the Arby's, Walker made cash payments for car repairs totaling $1,799.42, and an additional $891 in cash was found in his home. After a swift deliberation, the jury found James C. Walker guilty of one count of armed robbery and two counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
