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Police Identify Suspect Wanted For Questioning In Fatal Shooting Of Innocent Driver

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny County Police have identified a suspect in connection with a shooting in McKeesport earlier this week that claimed the life of an innocent man.

Police say they are looking to question 18-year-old Rashawn Walker. He is from the McKeesport area.

Walker is currently wanted on two warrants unrelated to the fatal shooting on Wednesday.

James Ponzo, 73, of Glassport was killed in the gunfire. Investigators believe he was an innocent victim who got caught in the crossfire when the shooting happened near Crawford Village.

Ponzo had been driving in that area and suffered a gunshot wound to the head by a stray bullet. His vehicle then crashed into another an SUV.

Ponzo was rushed to UPMC McKeesport Hospital but died in the emergency room.

Police say they consider Walker a fugitive. He is described as being approximately 5-feet-9-inches tall, 180 pounds and has a tattoo on the front of his neck.

This is not the first time Walker's been accused in the shooting death of an innocent victim.

He stood trial for mistakenly shooting and killing 25-year-old Susan Sidney last year on McCleary Street in McKeesport. Sidney was a mother of five children. However, Walker was acquitted at trial after jurors didn't believe a key witness.

Kirk Sidney, Susan's father, talked to KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti Friday night.

"This fool is out [of jail] again, doing the same thing," he said. "He hasn't been out of jail five weeks, and he's at it again, hurting or murdering someone."

Kirk said the jury that acquitted Walker "will have to live with their decision," and he was shocked when he heard that police were looking for Walker in the Ponzo shooting. Sidney feels the "pain for the family and friends of Ponzo because [he has] felt the same thing." He said, "Like my good daughter, this good man [Ponzo] has left the earth."

Walker has ties to Clairton and is also known to hide at hotels in the Waterfront.

Authorities are also advising the public that Walker should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about where Walker can be found is asked to call McKeesport Police or Allegheny County Police at 412-473-1300.

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