The 19-year-old accused of killing a wedding caterer last month will be released on bond after his attorneys argued he acted in self-defense, pointing to video and audio evidence.
The judge granted bond for Kempton Bonds on Thursday, citing the new video evidence of the moments leading up to the stabbing of Tyonne Johns at a wedding in Fairfax County.
One of the victim's friends had an emotional reaction in court as the judge issued the bond ruling, shouting "Murderer!"
But Bonds' lawyer said that Johns, 35, and several wedding guests had verbally and physically threatened Bonds, a seasonal employee for the Fairfax County Park Authority.
The defense submitted a nearly seven-minute video and audio recording, which they said contains threats being made against Bonds.
The lawyer's motion also stated that Bonds, of Clifton, Virginia, had called his supervisor and the police before the stabbing, reporting the issues. The defense says Bonds ultimately stabbed Johns in self-defense.
Fairfax County Police said Johns was working at a wedding Aug. 6 at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park on Walney Road in Chantilly, Virginia. Bonds also was working at the wedding, where he was responsible for picking up trash and folding chairs, police said.
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Authorities previously said Johns was loading folding chairs into her company's truck when Bonds said the chairs belonged to the Park Authority and not the company for which Johns was working.
The two got into an altercation over the chairs, police said. Investigators believe the argument led to the stabbing.
Police said investigators found the 3-inch pocket knife they believe Bonds used in the stabbing.
Johns was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Bonds stayed at the scene, where he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was held in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Park Authority said it has fired Bonds pending the outcome of the investigation.
