Attorney Accused of Trying to Hire a Hit Man to Kill Another Lawyer

A 58-year-old South Carolina criminal defense attorney has been charged with solicitation of a felony for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill another attorney with whom he formerly shared a law office.

Horry County Police say that Irby Walker talked repeatedly with a purported hit man, who recorded their conversations, and met with him at least once in his law office. Walker allegedly established a price for the hit on Thornton and put money down on the job, with the rest to be paid after his target, Doug Thornton, was dead, reports WBTW.

“This is incredible, unbelievable and I don’t know what to say about it,” Thornton tells the station.

Although stunned, however, Thornton wasn't completely surprised by the news of Walker's arrest, according to the Sun News: Its article reports that police began investigating after Thornton told authorities that Walker had made threats on his life.

"I know a few things that may contributed to it. I still have some very serious concerns about what will happen with this," Thorton tells the newspaper. It says that Walker allegedly made the payment to the purported hit man at his law office in Conway.

The articles don't include any comment from Walker or his counsel.