Columbus family angry over prosecution agreement in fatal shooting of 17-year-old girl

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A Columbus family is still trying to cope with an unimaginable loss. It's been more than a year since 17-year-old Halia Culbertson was fatally stabbed during a fight.

Bryanna Barozzini, 20, struck a deal with prosecutors just as her murder trial was about to begin.

Instead of facing a life sentence, she now faces a maximum of 3 years in prison. For those close to Culbertson, that's simply not enough.

“My granddaughter was 17. It’s been over a year and it hasn’t gotten any easier,” Harley Langley said.

For Langley, the grief remains fresh. Her 17-year-old granddaughter, Halia Culbertson, was taken instantly.

“She loved life and everyone was her new best friend,” Langley told ABC 6.

The teenager lost her life in March 2023 in front of this Northland convenience store. Investigators say Bryanna Barozzini, who was 18 at the time, fatally stabbed Culbertson during a fight.

Barozzini was in court this week to stand trial. Instead, she struck a deal with Franklin County prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutors dropped two murder charges.

Barrozzini is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. She faces a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison.

Langley emphasizes that the death of his granddaughter, as well as the trial and the settlement, are all excruciating and painful blows to the family.

“I consider this a serious miscarriage of justice. I don't understand. How is this a victory? It's not a victory,” Langley said.

ABC 6 has reached out to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office for comment on this story.

The prosecutor's office public relations team sent a statement saying the prosecutor had no comment at this time pending the sentencing hearing.