Overbrook man guilty in '07 killing

A Common Pleas jury yesterday convicted an Overbrook man of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the November 2007 shooting death of a promising Christian-rock musician.

Authorities contended that Andrew Poole, 23, of 61st Street near Columbia Avenue, gunned down Tremayne Walker, 30, because he mistakenly believed Walker had snitched to police about a playground shooting six weeks earlier in which a toddler and another man were injured.

As the jury forewoman announced the guilty verdicts, Poole displayed no reaction.

His girlfriend wept in the gallery.

Walker's aunt, Karen Lear, softly said, "Thank you, Jesus!"

During the trial, the jury also heard testimony about the Sept. 24, 2007, shooting at Tustin Playground, a block from Poole's home.

Authorities contended that Poole attempted to kill Carl Wallace, 31, who was hit seven times.

Also injured that day was 18-month-old Mehkee Gatewood, who was hit in a foot and elbow.

The panel yesterday told Judge Jeffrey Minehart that it was hopelessly deadlocked on the charges in the playground shooting.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Sax said afterward that the commonwealth would likely not seek a retrial because Poole already faces a mandatory term of life in prison for Walker's slaying when he is sentenced Jan. 21.

According to testimony at trial, Poole shot Walker on 61st Street near Oxford on Nov. 11, 2007.

As Walker lay bleeding, he told witnesses:

"If I die, Andrew Poole shot me."

Walker was the lead singer-songwriter of the Christian-rock band Browne Boyz.

Poole was a fugitive until Dec. 19, 2007, when police tracked him to a house on Market Street near 50th.

There, police found a 9 mm semiautomatic gun, which was determined to be the weapon used in both shootings, Sax said. *