Background: Convicted killer Anjuan Marion in court on Dec. 10, 2025 (WLWT/YouTube). Inset: Victim Ryan Healey (WXIX/YouTube).
A father in Ohio still grieving over the shooting death of his son, which was carried out — seemingly, at random — by a teen that the 25-year-old didn’t know in 2023 tore into the killer at a plea hearing on Friday, calling him a “sociopath” and “pathetic excuse for a human being.”
“Are you the one in charge of deciding life or death when you’re wielding a firearm?” Ryan Healey’s father, Rob Healey, asked convicted shooter Anjuan Marion as the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge related to Ryan’s 2023 death, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Marion was sentenced to serve between 12 to 14½ years as part of his plea deal.
At one point, Rob Healey referred to Marion — who was 16 at the time of the shooting — as “this scum of the earth … sitting in the room with us,” the Enquirer reports.
“I hope he lives in pain and suffering for the rest of his life,” Rob Healey said to Hamilton County Judge Chris Wagner.
Marion was originally charged in Hamilton County Juvenile Court but was transferred to adult court last year for the April 2023 shooting, which happened in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Police found Healey’s body at East Liberty and Main streets near Rothenberg Academy after he was shot multiple times in the chest. Police say a motive for the killing was never given or determined by investigators.
A plea deal that was floated for Marion in December was denied by Wagner, according to local NBC affiliate WLWT, and he was scheduled to go on trial in July 2025 before another deal was accepted last week, the station reports.
More from Law&Crime: ‘No sympathy’: Teen girl who took selfies after beating disabled man to death with friends tries apologizing to victim’s family in court as she learns her fate
“Justice can be bittersweet,” Judge Wagner told Healey’s family, who was reportedly in attendance on Friday at the plea hearing. “And sometimes it hurts.”
Healey’s family described him in court as a “true rock” for his loved ones.
“(Healey’s death) has left a devastating void, especially for our mother,” said Ronald Healey, Ryan’s brother. His mother reportedly now spends her time “imprisoned in her own home (with) fear and anxiety,” per Ronald.
“I want to say I’m sorry,” Marion told the family, saying nothing else.
The young man reportedly has a 4-year-old daughter and has been taking classes to earn a high school diploma.
“Maybe something good will come out of this,” Wagner concluded.
