BARBERTON, Ohio — Outrage is growing in Summit County after a 24-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another during a domestic dispute was released on bond.
Police say Justice Oney opened fire on 25-year-old Nathan Flight after Flight tried to help Oney’s wife get to safety during a heated argument on the streets of Barberton.
The incident unfolded near an intersection, where investigators say Oney forced his wife into a car at gunpoint before fleeing. Authorities later located the couple nearby.
Oney now faces charges including murder, felonious assault, and abduction. Despite the severity of the allegations, he was granted bond and released last Wednesday. That decision has left Flight’s grieving family both fearful and outraged.
“The judge let the killer out so that he could go home to be with his family,” said Jason Flight, the victim’s father. “I don’t get to see my son again. I’d like to know if Judge Rowland would do the same thing if it were her child, because I don’t think she would.”
Nathan’s sister, Sarah Flight, also expressed anger over the $250,000 bond, which allowed Oney to walk free after paying $25,000. “My brother’s life and the loss of his life was worth more than $25,000,” she told local outlet WOIO.
Authorities described Flight as an unintended victim who was simply trying to help. “He was just there to talk to her because she was obviously upset and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Barberton Police Officer Marty Eberhart.
A GoFundMe campaign created by Flight’s family has drawn support from the community, describing his death as a tragedy caused by gun violence while “attempting to help a friend in need.” The fundraiser portrays him as a “bright and shining light” whose absence has left a devastating void.
“My heart is broken for my family,” one relative wrote. “My heart is broken for the future that he will never have. For the family he won’t be able to create. For so many generational cycles that I know he would break.”
The case is expected to move forward in court, where the judge’s bond decision and the handling of domestic violence-related gun crimes are likely to remain under scrutiny.
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