photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Jeremy James Shacklett appears at his trial on Aug. 20, 2024, in Douglas County District Court.

Updated at 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22

A Douglas County jury on Thursday found a man not guilty of aggravated assault in connection with two alleged road rage incidents last year in Lawrence.

Jeremy James Shacklett, 47, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault stemming from two incidents on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2023. In both incidents, as the Journal-World reported, Shacklett was accused of becoming enraged while driving on Clinton Parkway and confronting motorists with a firearm.

The weapon in question was not a real gun but was a “marker” gun, described in court as an Airsoft gun that was a replica of a Walther PPQ handgun. The three alleged victims in the case testified that they believed it was a real handgun at the time and that they feared Shacklett was going to shoot them.

Shacklett, who testified in his own defense, claimed that he didn’t point the gun at anyone and that he had the gun in hand only because he was afraid. He believed he, not the other motorists, was the victim in the incidents. He said he was especially concerned because he had been living in the van he was driving with his child and his dog, and he felt he had to protect them.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Attorney Cooper Overstreet, left, delivers his closing argument Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in the trial of Jeremy Shacklett, center, in Douglas County District Court. Assistant District Attorney Adam Carey is at right.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Carey in closing arguments described to jurors a series of events that he said involved Shacklett tailgating, honking, squealing tires, flashing headlights, brake-checking and engaging in other aggressions. But Shacklett’s attorney, Cooper Overstreet, made a case to the jury that Shacklett was simply reacting to aggression directed at him, including being cut off by another driver who acknowledged on the witness stand that he was sometimes prone to road rage himself.

Overstreet argued that while Shacklett may not have shown good judgment, he did not do anything illegal, an argument evidently accepted by the jurors, who also declined to find Shacklett guilty of any lesser included crimes, including simple assault.

The jury deliberated for three hours before acquitting Shacklett of all counts.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Jeremy James Shacklett returns to his seat after testifying in his own defense Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Douglas County District Court. His attorney, Cooper Overstreet, is at right.