The Easton, Pennsylvania community continues to seek justice in the 2016 homicide of 35-year-old Michael Bond, a Black/African American man originally from the Bronx, New York. Bond was fatally shot on May 9, 2016, in the city’s West Ward.
Police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle near 13th and Northampton streets and found him inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Church Street. He was transported to a hospital but did not survive.
Jeffrey R. Raymond, also known as Jeffrey “Rico” Raymond, was identified as the suspect. The shooting stemmed from a prior confrontation involving a mutual acquaintance at a nightclub. A key witness, Tatiana Lockhart (Raymond’s then-girlfriend), reportedly told police she saw Raymond shoot Bond. The case has a complex legal history marked by witness availability issues.
Raymond was initially charged with criminal homicide, extradited, and faced proceedings, but charges were dismissed in May 2019 after the primary witness could not be located. Prosecutors refiled homicide charges against him in October 2023 once the witness resurfaced and became available. As of April 2026, Raymond remains in custody awaiting trial in Northampton County on the single count of homicide related to Bond’s death.
The location in Easton’s West Ward near Church Street has been central to the investigation. Bond was described by family as a sociable man who “wouldn’t hurt a soul.” The case gained additional attention because Raymond faced separate homicide charges in New York around the same period.
As of the most recent public updates in April 2026, Raymond’s trial on the Easton homicide charge was subject to scheduling discussions, including defense arguments regarding speedy trial rights. The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office continues to pursue the case. No final verdict or sentencing has been reported.
Anyone with additional information about the 2016 shooting is encouraged to contact Easton Police or the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. Michael Bond’s family and the broader Easton community have waited nearly a decade for resolution in what was the city’s only homicide that year. The investigation and prosecution highlight challenges with witness cooperation in violent crime cases.
