TAMPA, Fla. — Gerald Declan Radford, accused of the fatal shooting of John Walter Lay at a local dog park, denied claims on Friday that his actions were motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. Speaking publicly for the first time during a stand-your-ground hearing, Radford sought to distance himself from accusations of homophobia and emphasize self-defense in the February incident.
The confrontation resulting in Lay’s death occurred beneath the sprawling oaks of West Dog Park. This area is familiar to many as a home to local dog owners, including Radford, 66, who faces a charge of second-degree murder.
At the center of this legal battle is Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground law, which Radford’s defense leaned heavily upon. The law protects individuals who use deadly force in what they perceive as a life-threatening situation, without requiring them to retreat.
During the hearing, Radford presented his version of the events leading to the tragic encounter. He detailed escalating tensions rooted in differences over politics and pandemic strategies, not sexual orientation. Both individuals are known regulars at the park where their initially cordial interactions deteriorated over time.
Radford, dressed in prison orange and constrained by shackles, recounted moments when disputes over politics infused with pandemic protocols fueled aggressive exchanges between him and Lay. Despite acknowledging his use of homophobic slurs in past encounters, Radford claimed these did not reflect his personal feelings towards Lay being gay, stating he had congratulated Lay when he came out.
However, the defense’s narrative faced significant challenge from seven witnesses, friends from the dog park, who described the dynamic starkly different. They portrayed Radford as aggressive and hostile, while Lay was remembered as peaceful and trustworthy.
Tensions seemed to come to a head the day prior to the shooting when, according to defense, a text from Lay indicated a readiness to physically confront Radford. Less than a day later, the dispute turned deadly.
According to Radford, the fatal interaction began with a verbal provocation from Lay and escalated when Lay physically attacked him. Under duress, Radford claimed he managed to grab his 9 mm pistol during a struggle for control of the firearm, ultimately resulting in Lay’s death by a single gunshot.
Hillsborough County’s chief medical examiner, Kelly Devers, contributed forensic analysis that the gunshot wound on Lay’s upper right chest was inflicted at close range, complicating the self-defense claim. The bullet trajectory and the position inferred from the wound suggested complexities in the encounter’s dynamics.
Assistant State Attorney Justin Diaz used the opportunity to cast doubt on Radford’s version of events, bringing in Radford’s jail phone calls where he continued to use derogatory language about Lay. Diaz depicted Radford as the aggressor in the situation, contradicting the self-defense claim.
The legal proceedings have attracted attention due to their potential ramifications on the application of Florida’s stand-your-ground law. As the community awaits a ruling by Hillsborough Circuit Judge Samantha Ward, expected next week, the case reopens dialogues on self-defense laws, community safety, and the impacts of personal biases on violent confrontations.
As Radford’s fate hangs in balance, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate layers of human relations and the lethal consequences that can erupt from unresolved conflicts.