A Franklin County judge sentenced a man charged in a fatal bar shooting in Columbus five years ago to at least four years in prison.
On March 7, 2021, police claim 19-year-old Christian Antonio Michael Davis was shot and died outside Sand Pebble Lounge on Lockbourne Road in the southeast.
Witnesses told police that Davis had a brief argument with Nathan Roy before being shot. The incident was caught on video, according to court documents.
Roy was arrested and accused of murder, felonious assault, and weapons under disability.
Roy’s trial was set to begin in April 2026. His docket on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas’ website shows that he accepted an agreement and pleaded guilty to felonious assault and weapons under disability. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the murder charge was dismissed due to self-defense issues.
During his sentence, Davis’ family members spoke about how Roy should receive the maximum punishment for the 19-year-old’s killing.
Roy’s attorney, Thomas Hayes, stated that the use of self-defense was an issue for whether a trial was required.
Hayes explained that on the night of the incident, Roy was at the bar when Davis arrived with another person. The two were reportedly inebriated and passing a firearm around.
Hayes stated that Roy told Davis and the other guy to leave the bar as it was about to close for the night. Davis reportedly threatened Roy.
According to Hayes, Davis attempted to punch Roy. That was when Roy pulled out his firearm and shot Davis.
Judge Julie Lynch said that gun violence was at the center of this case and that things would have been different if firearms were not present.
“I have these families come in, I have these defendants come in, and everybody’s talking about gun violence and how horrible it is, and that’s how they lost family members,” Lynch stated. “We have two 19-year-olds flinging guns back and forth, and someone who shouldn’t have had a gun has one. If they hadn’t brought the gun in and if he hadn’t brought the gun in, no one would have been shot.”
Roy addressed the court during his sentencing, expressing regret for what happened.
Roy was sentenced to four to six years in prison.
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