Post updated at 5:52 p.m. Tuesday, June 4:
A scheduling conflict delayed Monday’s planned preliminary hearing for a man accused of shooting and killing a local musician in downtown Lawrence in March.
Nicholas Laron Beaver, 32, is facing one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Vincent Lee Walker, who was shot and killed just after 5 p.m. March 6 at the bus stop in the 700 block of Vermont Street, across from the Lawrence Public Library.
Walker, 39, was a musician who performed under the name V-Dubb, a father of three and a brother to seven siblings, according to his obituary.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing an altercation between Walker and another man prior to the shooting. One witness, who said he was sitting with Walker when he was shot, said the shooter rode off on a bicycle heading toward Watson Park.
Police searched the area for several hours before Beaver was identified as a suspect and taken into custody.
In a statement to the media on March 7, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart said Beaver, who is originally from Topeka, had been staying in Lawrence for a brief time prior to the shooting. According to Lockhart, a man similar to Beaver’s description had dropped a gun on the floor of the Lawrence Community Shelter the night before but left before police arrived.
In the same case, Beaver is also charged with battery, a Class B misdemeanor, for allegedly “unlawfully and knowingly caus(ing) physical contact with another person done in a rude, insulting, or angry manner.” No additional information is available.
Last week, the district attorney’s office filed five misdemeanor counts of criminal use of a financial card against Beaver, charging that he unlawfully used a stolen credit card multiple times on March 3 to purchase a variety of items from grocery, convenience and retail stores in the downtown Lawrence area.
Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden last week requested a continuance for Monday’s preliminary hearing, citing his participation in another trial that he anticipated would continue beyond its estimated schedule.
Douglas County District Court Judge Stacey Donovan will hold a status conference on Tuesday to reschedule the hearing. At the preliminary hearing, once it is rescheduled, Donovan will determine whether there is enough evidence to bind Beaver over for trial. The hearing was rescheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 29.
Donovan has sealed the probable cause affidavit in Beaver’s case. Affidavits generally contain more information and detail about a case and investigation.
Beaver remains in custody at the Douglas County jail held on a $1 million cash or surety bond.
All arrestees and defendants in criminal cases should be presumed not guilty unless they are convicted.
Note: The lead photo on this post has been updated.
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Andrea Albright (she/her), reporter, can be reached at aalbright (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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