Kosciusko man becomes 3rd Mississippian charged in Jan. 6 riot in Washington

Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read
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A 48-year-old Kosciusko man was arrested Tuesday on charges related to his alleged conduct during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal officials reported in an email.

Donald Walker was arrested by FBI agents on Monday in Jackson on a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. He made his initial court appearance in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Mississippi.

What are the charges?

Walker was charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds and parading, picketing and demonstrating and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, the email said.

"His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election," officials reported.

A photo in a FBI statement shows a man believed to be 48-year-old Donald Walker of Kosciusko, Miss., during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.
A photo in a FBI statement shows a man believed to be 48-year-old Donald Walker of Kosciusko, Miss., during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.

What do authorities say happened?

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, a man later identified as Walker is seen on Metropolitan Police Department body-worn camera footage approaching the police line and bike rack barricades established on the West Plaza of Capitol grounds.

He allegedly locked his arm through a bike rack barricade and pulled it toward him as officers attempted to defend the police line and gain control of the barricade. The man, believed to be Walker was sprayed with a chemical irritant and is shown leaving from the police line.

"As the struggle ensued, an individual, wearing a black Columbia jacket with a circular specialty logo underneath the Columbia logo, black baseball cap with a black and white American flag, beige tactical gloves with a distinctive dark strip along the knuckles, black sneakers, and beige camouflage gaiter," according to an FBI agent whose name was redacted in a statement filed in federal court describing the man believed to be Walker.

The email provided by the U.S. Department of Justice said Walker re-approached the police line and allegedly grabbed the bike rack barricade in an attempt to wrestle it away from a police officer.

"Walker is again sprayed with a chemical irritant by police, causing him to retreat," the email said.

Click here to view FBI statement of facts regarding Donald Walker's alleged participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol

Court documents report Walker allegedly entered the Capitol building via the Parliamentarian Door at approximately 2:54 p.m.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi assisted.

The January 6 riot investigation

The FBI's Jackson and Washington field offices are investigating the case assisted by U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

To date, more than 1,358 people have been charged for crimes related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

2021: 2 Mississippians face charges after pro-Trump riot at U.S. Capitol

How many have been charged in the January 6 riot?

Walker is not the only Mississippian charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

On Jan. 7, 2021, two Mississippi men were arrested and charged with misdemeanors in connection with the breach.

In June 2023, Toney "Sheldon" Bray and his son, Ethan Bray, were charged with felony obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Toney Bray also is charged with theft of government property.

It is unclear whether Walker was released on bond following his initial court appearance. The Brays each were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds, meaning they do not have to pay the money unless they violate the terms of their release.

According to the Justice Dept., over 1,265 defendants have been charged in connection to the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol from nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This includes those charged in both District and Superior Court.

Click here to read affidavit by FBI agent on the Brays' alleged activities at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips is asked to call 800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: January 6 2021 Capitol riot: Mississippi man charged in insurrection