Murder suspect in Columbus was out on bail— for murder charges

A man who was indicted for murder in a Pickerington, Ohio case was charged with an additional murder while he was out on bond for the first charge.

According to local news, Avonte Sanford of Columbus, Ohio was charged with fatally shooting 19 year old Antohn Saunders in December 2021. He was arrested and released on bond. In January, he was arrested on charged of fatally shooting James Palmer III.

A grand jury has now indicted Sanford for two counts of Murder and Aggravated Murder along with Aggravated Robbery and Having Weapons While Under Disability in the Pickerington murder case.

The last charge’s "disability" status in regard to his being out on bond.

When Sanford allegedly murdered Palmer in early January, he was out on bond for not one but two gun related crimes: the murder in December of  as well as the shooting of a 16-year-old girl walking to her bus stop. The motives for all three crimes are as yet unclear.

Bail reform efforts have been underway in Ohio, backed by the ACLU. The ACLU has been working to end cash bail altogether and allow accused criminals complete freedom until sentencing.

These measures have been debated in the Democrat run city, and the current bail is set by judges after recommendations by city prosecutors.

Twice in Sanford's case he was able to make bail by posting bond and it’s unclear who posted the money on his behalf. Sanford is currently in the Franklin County Jail and has pled not guilty on all charges.

Homicides have been increasing steadily since 2020 in major cities like Columbus. Columbus has been affected by the defund the police movement and bail reform initiatives. Many of the fatalities have been in black and minority communities.