Dog Park shooting trial: Tampa jury decides fate of man accused in murder case

TAMPA, Fla. - A Tampa jury found Gerald Declan Radford not guilty in the deadly shooting at a dog park after just two hours of deliberations. The verdict comes nearly one year after the murder. 

Prosecutors say Radford, who is now 66, targeted and killed John Walter Lay, because he was gay. He was charged with second-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement. 

However, Radford, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claimed self-defense after Lay allegedly attacked him during the altercation.

Radford's defense attorney, Matthew Futch, spoke after the verdict, saying, "Mr. Radford maintained his innocence the entire time."

However, the victim's family, including John Walter Lay’s sister, Sabrena Lay Hughes, was shocked at the outcome. 

"I think they just didn’t really look at the facts. They just wanted to go home" she said. "This jury has just set a precedent for other people to shoot someone if they get punched."

Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez issued a statement respecting the jury’s decision but expressing her disagreement with it, stating in part: 

"The fact that this victim was forced to endure hatred and prejudice from the defendant based on his sexual orientation shows that our society still has progress to make toward equality."

Closing arguments

What they're saying:

In their final message to the jury, prosecutors again laid out their case against Radford, saying he repeatedly harassed Lay for more than two years prior to the Feb. 2, 2024, struggle that led to the deadly shooting at the West Dog Park off North Occident St. near Tampa.

Prosecuting attorney Justin Diaz used a baseball analogy when mentioning a video Lay recorded the day before the shooting, saying Radford threatened to kill him.

"Gerald Radford is standing at the batter's box in the World Series, and he's calling his shot," Diaz said. "Twenty-four hours before Mr. Lay is dead, Gerald Radford is telling him ‘you’re going to die.'"

The defense acknowledged Radford's use of hateful language while maintaining his claim of self-defense.

"No matter how offensive those words in 2024 and 2025 are, that in and of it itself, somebody who uses hateful terminology or is a self-described a****** does not make them a criminal. It does not make them a murderer," defense attorney Matthew Futch said.

Courtroom testimony

Big picture view:

The case centered around the tense relationship between Radford and Lay, who had been regular acquaintances at the dog park. According to prosecutors, Radford had been verbally abusive towards Lay over several months, making homophobic slurs and derogatory remarks about Lay’s sexual orientation. 

Prosecutor Justin Diaz labeled Radford as "hostile" and "belligerent," suggesting that he had been a bully in the situation.

On the other hand, the defense argued that Lay's anger toward Radford led to an attack, and Radford's actions were in response to a direct threat. 

"He did everything we as a society would ask somebody to do... to take another human life to save your own," the defense had argued. 

Dig deeper:

On Thursday, the defense only called one witness, a lab analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, before resting. Radford declined to testify.

During the first two days of the trial, the state laid out its case, calling investigators to the stand, followed by regular visitors to the dog park who knew both men.

Witnesses who knew Lay said he was mild-mannered, telling the jury that Radford began directing homophobic slurs at Lay as their friendship deteriorated.

RELATED: Dog park shooting trial: Prosecution rests, defense to begin its case Thursday

The defense pointed to scrapes on Lay's knees as proof that he was kneeling over Radford and attacking him when he was shot, claiming self-defense.

Prosecutors looked to cast doubt on that scenario by calling the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, Dr. Kelly Devers, to the stand.

Devers testified that Lay didn't have hand injuries consistent with punching someone.

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