photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Nicholas Beaver is pictured at his murder trial Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Douglas County District Court.

A jury on Thursday found a man guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 39-year-old man last year in downtown Lawrence.

Nicholas Beaver, 34, was accused of killing Vincent Lee Walker on March 6, 2024, in front of the Lawrence Public Library.

The jurors — eight women and four men — began deliberating at 10:50 a.m. and returned their verdict around 1 p.m.

In closing arguments Thursday morning, attorneys attempted to persuade the jurors of two very different versions of events.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Defense attorney Razmi Tahirkheli makes his closing argument in the murder trial of Nicholas Beaver Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Douglas County District Court.

Defense attorney Razmi Tahirkheli argued that Beaver was acting in self-defense when he pumped three bullets into Walker at the bus stop. He said that Walker had struck Beaver with his shoulder and was yelling and behaving aggressively, causing Beaver to believe he was in so much danger that he had to use deadly force.

Tahirkheli additionally suggested that Beaver was being “framed” because of his race.

“Mr. Beaver is a Black, homeless man. That’s the reality in this country,” Tahirkheli said, inviting jurors to speculate on how a white woman in Beaver’s shoes would be treated by the state.

Deputy District Attorney David Greenwald said Tahirkheli’s last-minute mention of race was simply an attempt to “shift the focus from the evidence” and that he wanted the jury to ignore the fact that the victim was also Black.

Greenwald argued that it was not a case of self-defense, but one of “ego,” wherein Beaver felt “disrespected” by Walker, who had spit on him, and simply decided to kill him.

The state had to prove to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Beaver had not acted in self-defense.

The law allows a person to use force that is likely to cause death or great bodily harm if he reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself from the other person’s imminent use of unlawful force.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The state displays a summary of self-defense law for the jury at the murder trial of Nicholas Beaver on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Douglas County District Court.

Jurors had the option of acquitting Beaver or of returning a guilty verdict on first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter. They chose the most serious offense.

Judge Stacey Donovan did not immediately set a date for sentencing.

This is a developing story and will be updated.