TOPEKA (KSNT) — A day after a Shawnee County jury found a man not guilty in the killing of an innocent bystander, his attorney says he’s on his way to being a free man for the first time in nearly three years.

Tony Baird was arrested in 2020 for the murder of Jerrie Ross. She was shot and killed by a stray bullet that Baird said she fired in self-defense.

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Attorney Tarak Devkot said his client was attacked by gang members who wrongly identified him as a member of a rival gang. A jury found Baird not guilty on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, it was the wrong person. He was Tony Baird,” Devkota said. “I believe the testimony of mistaken identity and gang violence was instrumental in getting Tony Baird free.”

As his client awaits release from prison, Devkota is calling on the City of Topeka to do more to address violent crime.

“We asked jurors to approach the city and ask them to do something about the crime on the streets,” Devkota said. “[They need] to address what Tony Baird went through that day so that other people can’t be affected by mistaken identity.

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Baird is due out of jail next week. Devkota says Baird wants to meet with Ross’ family to apologize and make sure they know the shooting that claimed his life was a mistake.

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