Macon man sentenced to 20 years of probation for fatal 2020 shooting
A Bibb County jury convicted a Macon man of aggravated assault in a fatal 2020 shooting at a Macon apartment complex, according to a news release Wednesday from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
Earlondez Bond, 37, was found guilty in the shooting at Hunter’s Run Apartment Homes, which led to the death of Joshua Horne. Bond was sentenced to 20 years on probation, with the first 10 to be served in custody.
Bond, however, was found not guilty of one count of malice murder and one count of felony murder, according to his defense attorney, J. Travis Griffin.
Susan Ryan, spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, confirmed Wednesday the acquittal of murder charges related to the case.
The shooting occurred on Oct. 12, 2020, at Hunter’s Run, where Horne died after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene, as previously reported by The Telegraph.
What happened?
The incident revolved around a couple’s divorce and a Kia Sorento SUV, according to Griffin.
It is unclear whether Horne and Bond knew each other, but they were in-laws related to different sides of the ex-spouses, Griffin said.
On the day of the incident, Horne attacked Bond’s father-in-law and took the SUV.
Authorities said Bond arrived at Hunter’s Run armed with two firearms, according to Wednesday’s news release.
When confronted by the victim, Horne, Bond pointed a firearm at several people, the press release said.
Bond told investigators he chased Horne and dropped the weapon he was carrying. Bond’s wife said she repeatedly tried to get him back into the car before the confrontation escalated, according to investigators.
Physical evidence confirmed that both of Bond’s firearms were discharged. The bullet recovered from Horne’s autopsy matched Bond’s Taurus pistol.
Prosecutors said the case presented challenges because Bond claimed self-defense, alleging Horne picked up Bond’s dropped Ruger and fired at him. Before trial, the state offered Bond a plea deal that would have allowed him to receive a 10-year sentence with five years to serve.
Bond declined and proceeded to trial.
At sentencing, the judge said Bond, at 37, should have known better than to escalate the situation. The court declined to sentence him as a first offender, citing the seriousness of his conduct.
“This verdict sends a clear message that you cannot arm yourself, walk into someone else’s neighborhood looking for a confrontation, and take a life without being held accountable,” District Attorney Anita Howard said in the press release. “Mr. Bond made a series of calculated, dangerous choices that night, and this jury held him accountable for them. We offered Bond the ability to make amends for his actions prior to trial. He rejected that opportunity and his sentence reflects that poor decision.”
Howard added that the district attorney’s office said it is committed to pursuing justice for every victim of violent crime in our community.
