TAMPA, Florida — A video recorded by John Walter Lay the day before he was fatally shot at a Tampa dog park by another man sheds light on a series of confrontations that had been escalating in severity. According to friends and family, Lay, 52, had been targeted for months by the man who had been hurling homophobic slurs and making threats to him at the park.
The shooter, identified as 65-year-old Gerald Declan Radford, has claimed self-defense, but Lay’s family and friends dispute this account. They describe a history of harassment and escalating aggression, fuelled by differing political views and Lay’s open homosexuality.
Lay, a former U.S. Navy serviceman, had formed a strong bond with the dog park community in Tampa after adopting a shelter dog named Fala. But tensions rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a split within the friend group due to political differences. Lay’s friends describe how the situation escalated after Radford discovered Lay’s political views and sexual orientation.
The series of confrontations culminated in Radford fatally shooting Lay. Despite Radford’s claim of self-defense, Lay’s friends and family believe that his killing was unjustified. However, details of the investigation and any potential witnesses or evidence have yet to be fully disclosed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Lay’s family and friends are seeking justice for his death, but they are also grappling with the loss of a beloved community member. In the aftermath of Lay’s tragic death, the community has come together to support each other and honor Lay’s memory.
The FBI is looking into the case, but many questions remain unanswered, leaving Lay’s family seeking closure and justice while still mourning the loss of their loved one.