"Hate-Motivated Murder: Tampa Man Charged in Dog Park Shooting of Gay Victim"

Gerald Declan Radford, 65, has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of John Walter Lay at a Tampa dog park, with prosecutors seeking a hate crime enhancement due to alleged use of bigoted slurs. LGBTQ advocates criticized Florida's "stand your ground" law, which initially protected Radford's self-defense claim, and expressed frustration over the delay in bringing charges. Lay had reportedly filmed a video suggesting threats from Radford the day before the shooting, aiding prosecutors in their case.