Dog park shooting trial: Jurors hear opening statements and testimony Tuesday

The trial of a man accused of targeting and killing another man at a dog park because he was gay began in a Tampa courtroom on Tuesday.

Gerald Declan Radford, who is now 66, is charged with second-degree murder and a hate crime enhancement for the Feb. 2024 shooting death of John Walter Lay.

Pictured: Gerald Radford in court on Tuesday.

Pictured: Gerald Radford in court on Tuesday.

Shooting death of John Walter Lay

The backstory:

Prosecutors say Radford shot and killed Lay, who was 52, on Feb. 2, 2024, during a struggle at the West Dog Park off North Occident Street near Tampa.

Pictured: John Walter Lay

Pictured: John Walter Lay

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Radford repeatedly harassed Lay for more than two years, calling him a homophobic slur and making derogatory remarks about Lay's sexual orientation.

The day before the shooting, Lay recorded a video saying Radford threatened to kill him.

CLICK HERE:>>> Follow FOX 13 on YouTube

Radford, however, has maintained his claim that Lay was the aggressor, citing text messages sent prior to the shooting. A judge rejected his "stand your ground" motion in December.

Last week, Radford rejected a plea deal that would have given him a 15-year prison sentence followed by 10 years probation for the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Tuesday trial update

The day began with body cam video of Hillsborough deputies' frantic attempts to save Lay's life.

What they're saying:

Prosecutors claim that Radford's story changed many times during interviews with detectives before his arrest.

The defense said they believe Radford was charged because investigators caved to public pressure.

"I want you to ask yourself if an innocent man who was forced to defend himself is being railroaded by the State Attorney's Office and by law enforcement who folded to public pressure to charge Declan and make this a hate crime," defense attorney Shanna Bailey Schultz said.

The prosecutors urged the jury to ask themselves what Radford was thinking when he shot Lay.

"What was in the mind of Gerald Radford when he pulled the trigger and shot John Walter Lay? Was it fear? Was it the fear of death or great bodily harm? Or, was it hate?" prosecuting attorney Justin Diaz said.

What's next:

Radford faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.

The trial is expected to last about a week.

The Source: This story was written using information from courtroom testimony, Hillsborough County court records and previous FOX 13 News reports.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

TampaCrime and Public Safety