Jury finds man not guilty of charges in shooting

A Lawrence man accused of shooting a woman in the face last year was found not guilty of all charges today.

Domonic A. Shepherd, 25, had been charged with attempted second-degree murder for the Sept. 18 shooting at an apartment in the 700 block of Comet Lane. After a two-day trial, Douglas County District Court jurors began deliberations about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and announced their verdict around 10 a.m. today.

Dist. Atty. Charles Branson said Shepherd intentionally shot the victim, 23-year-old Kelley Johnson, and tried to shoot another woman, Danielle Williams, after he refused to leave Williams’ apartment and the two women threatened to call police. Shepherd had come to the apartment with a friend, but was stranded when the friend left.

But Shepherd said that Johnson got in his face, he shoved her, Williams pulled a gun, and the gun went off accidentally during a struggle.