Murderer pleads guilty

From Hennepin County

The home invasion murder of Shea Stremcha two summers ago ended with a guilty plea by the third man involved in the break-in and shooting.

Xavier Demia Walker, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday as his trial was about to begin. He agreed to a sentence of the statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. He will be sentenced March 26 at 2 p.m. Co-defendant Robert Shelby, 29, is expected to receive 426 months and co-defendant Semaj Williams, 23, is expected to receive 460 months when they are sentenced the same day as Walker at 1:15 p.m. and 8:45 a.m. respectively.

“For participating in this cold-blooded murder, each of these three defendants will be sentenced to between 35 and 40 years in prison,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said. “Although nothing will bring Shea Stremcha back to life, these very long sentences bring some justice to a tragic home invasion, some closure to the family and some relief to the neighborhood.”

Stremcha and his fiancée were asleep in the early morning of July 20, 2011, when he awoke to the sound of breaking glass. He grabbed a knife near his bed and went to investigate. The three intruders confronted Stremcha, who managed to cut Shelby in the hand, and Walker shot Stremcha in the chest. He died at the scene.

A few days later, DNA and fingerprint evidence recovered from the scene led police to arrest Shelby and Williams. Further investigation over the next 10 months led Minneapolis police to Walker. Shelby and Williams were indicted for first-degree murder on Aug. 4, 2011, and Walker was indicted on June 21, 2012.