TAMPA, Florida – The family and friends of John Walter Lay are demanding justice after he was fatally shot at West Dog Park ten days ago. Lay, also known as “Walt,” was allegedly targeted for being gay by the accused shooter, Gerald Declan Radford. The fatal shooting occurred on Feb. 2, but no criminal charges have been filed yet.
According to Lay’s friends, Radford frequently harassed Lay and subjected him to anti-gay slurs, despite the two men having differing political and social views. Lay and his friends reportedly tried to avoid Radford by gathering in a different area of the park.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the identity of the accused shooter, but no further details about the investigation have been disclosed. Friends of Lay revealed that he had been documenting his encounters with Radford, and the day before the fatal shooting, Lay filmed himself at the park, stating that someone had threatened him with death.
Since the shooting, organizations such as the Florida National Organization for Women and Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, have publicly condemned the incident. Equality Florida has emphasized the importance of leaders standing against hate and ensuring an unbiased investigation.
In a text message, Radford claimed that he had not heard from the detective yet and refrained from commenting on the case. However, Lay’s landlord, Albert Darlington, expressed doubt about Radford’s version of events, stating that Lay was not the type of person to instigate a physical confrontation.
As the investigation continues, Lay’s friends and supporters are calling for justice and expressing concerns about the public’s safety at the park. There is also a push for the removal of any firearms owned by Radford.
As of now, the State Attorney’s Office has not responded to requests for comment about potential hate crime charges related to the shooting. The community is rallying for justice, affirming that Lay did not deserve to die the way he did.