After deliberating for about 2½ hours, a six-person jury found that Gerald Declan Radford did not commit second-degree murder when he shot John Walter Lay at the West Dog Park last year. Prosecutors had also sought a hate crime enhancement, arguing Radford was motivated to shoot Lay because he was gay.

A Hillsborough County jury found Gerald Declan Radford not guilty for the shooting of a gay man at a Tampa dog park last year.

Throughout the trial, attorneys argued that Gerald Declan Radford acted in self-defense when he shot and killed John 'Walter' Lay.