Bradenton man takes 'Stand Your Ground' defense in manslaughter case

BRADENTON -- A judge listened Friday as the defense for a man charged with shooting his girlfriend's husband asked the case be dismissed based on the Stand Your Ground law.

Jared Lakes, 28, is charged with manslaughter with a firearm after he shot Shawn McCoy, 28, in front of Lakes' residence in the 600 block of 25th Avenue West. Lakes is out on $200,000 bond as he awaits trial.

Defense attorney Peter Lombardo told Circuit Judge Deno Economou that Lakes acted in self-defense and should not be prosecuted under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.

Lack of time forced the case to be continued at a hearing at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10. Economou said they would try to schedule time before then to conclude the hearing.

Lombardo said McCoy came to the home July 12, 2014, where his estranged wife lived with Lakes. McCoy began arguing with his wife, the two men exchanged words and a fight ensued, according to Lombardo.

Moments later, McCoy grabbed a knife and told Lakes he would kill him, the defense claimed.

Lakes then went outside, leaving McCoy still holding the knife, the defense said. McCoy followed him out and started punching Lakes, according to the defense.

The defense said, out of fear for his life, Lakes then shot McCoy dead.

Assistant State Attorney Justin Phillips presented a witness who gave a conflicting account of what happened.

Lilie Gordon, the sister of Shawn McCoy's new girlfriend, testified she took McCoy to drop his four children off to the home his estranged wife shared with Lakes.

Gordon said she sat in her car as McCoy quickly went in and out of the home to say goodbye to his children. She began to sob as she recalled McCoy walking out toward her car as Lakes began to follow and head-butted McCoy.

McCoy told Lakes he didn't want to fight him in front of his children, she testified.

A fight began and Lakes held the gun to McCoy's stomach and shot him, Gordon testified.

Lombardo asked Gordon why she initially told police

the two men were separated when the gun was fired. Gordon insisted the two men had been belly to belly.

McCoy had already been barred by court order from coming to the home as a result of a temporary injunction served Dec. 18, 2013, Lombardo argued. He had also been facing charges of throwing a deadly missile at a building, trespassing an occupied structure and violation of domestic injunction as a result of a domestic violence dispute on Dec. 26, 2013.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton man takes 'Stand Your Ground' defense in manslaughter case."