Trial postponed over angry shooting incident that left young girl paralyzed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – The three suspects charged in connection with a 2023 road rage incident that left then-6-year-old Onyx Sands paralyzed were back in court Monday.

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At the hearing, we learned that a trial date may be set soon and that the judge will decide whether all three defendants will be tried together.

Monday was supposed to be the first day of the trial in this case, but because Shelby Bisconer and Jonathan Rivera want a separate trial for Edward Sark and there are doubts about Sark’s sanity, the date is being postponed again and again.

But nearly 14 months after Onyx Sands, now seven, was paralyzed by the incident because of her aggression behind the wheel, she and her family are still waiting for justice.

Bisconer, Rivera and Sark all appeared in court on Monday and the judge decided whether all three would be tried together.

“The state wanted to try all three cases together until the court decided the severance package,” said Susan Schultz Gibson, a judge in Kentucky’s 30th District Court, 12th District. “The court decided the severance package and denied it, as well as the motion to dismiss.”

Bisconer and Rivera sought separate trials on charges of reckless endangerment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, respectively.

Both Bisconer and Rivera are accused of firing several shots at the victim’s SUV after it struck Rivera’s motorcycle, but the car was not hit.

Police believe Sark was the one who fired the bullet that severed Onyx Sands’ spine.

The case is also on hold because the court has not yet determined whether Sark is fit to stand trial until a psychiatric examination has been carried out.

His lawyer says the evaluation should take place soon.

“Over the last few weeks, I have received letters from KCPC asking for any medical information I can provide. That is usually a sign that, as dire as that wording may be, things are imminent,” said Sark’s attorney Bart McMahon.

Onyx’s mother Chyna has been very outspoken about her opinion on the case, previously telling WAVE News that she just wants the justice system to be held accountable.

“I want these people to be held accountable. I want these people to face the consequences for what they did to my child, for what they did to me,” Chyna Sands shared. “This is not something that anyone should be slapped on the wrist for. They changed her life in every way. Now and for the rest of her life, she’s going to have to deal with this.”

When asked what she thought about Monday’s news, Sands sent a statement saying:

All three suspects are expected back in court on October 4 at 9 a.m.

We expect to hear more about Sark’s assessment and receive a new date for the trial to begin.

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