04/08/2026
A Shawnee County jury has returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of State of Kansas v. Paul Jeffrey Gladney Jr.
Mr. Gladney was charged with Second Degree Murder following the April 23, 2025, stabbing death in a vehicle parked in Ripley Park.
The trial’s ultimate issue centered on whether the deceased threatened Mr. Gladney with a highly realistic BB gun (visually indistinguishable from a real firearm) recovered during the investigation.
The defense maintained that Mr. Gladney acted in lawful self-defense after the deceased produced the weapon and threatened to "put a .45 slug" in his head.
Conversely, the prosecution argued that Mr. Gladney was not threatened, but misunderstood a statement from the deceased, and the weapon was found after death.
During jury selection, defense counsel David McDonald told jurors that under self-defense law, if a weapon appears real, a person has the right to respond as though it were real.
“His death was a tragedy ... most of us will never forget watching [the crime scene video] ...But this is a court of law, not a court of emotion." Defense counsel, Vincent Rivera told jurors.
This was a tragic situation with a devastating outcome. Our hearts go out to the victim, his family, and everyone affected by this case.
Vincent Rivera and David McDonald bring over 30 years of combined experience in high-stakes jury trials in state and federal courts.
The defense team remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals facing serious criminal charges.
