Firefighter Arrested in Fatal Shooting Is Released

A Los Angeles County firefighter arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife’s ex-boyfriend was released from custody Friday, a move that prosecutors say will allow them more time to investigate the slaying before deciding if they will press charges.

William Oney, 29, appeared briefly in court Friday for an arraignment hearing. But Judge Art Gutierrez released the off-duty firefighter on his own recognizance after the district attorney’s office said it wasn’t ready to charge Oney in the death of Todd Michael Thies.

Outside of court, Deputy Dist. Atty. Chris Harman declined to elaborate on her office’s decision to hold off on charges, saying simply that “further investigation needs to be done.”

“All I can tell you is that it’s still open,” Harman said.

According to the law, prosecutors only have 72 hours to file charges against someone in custody. Releasing a suspect gives authorities more time to investigate before coming to a decision on what, if any, charges to file.

Shortly after his arrest Wednesday night, Oney told investigators he acted in self-defense when he allegedly fired a .45-caliber handgun once at Thies’ head. Harman declined to say if self-defense was an issue in the case. No weapon was recovered from the victim.

Oney, appearing in a jail jumpsuit and closely cropped hair, was not represented by an attorney during Friday’s court hearing and said nothing when the judge excused him from custody.

According to investigators, Oney had been arguing with Thies, a 31-year-old Simi Valley construction worker, over a child-custody issue. Oney’s wife, Heidi, 28, shared custody of a 4-year-old son with Thies.

Thies arrived at the Oneys’ Simi Valley home just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to pick up his son, when the two men began to argue. The argument grew more heated. Thies was shot in the head at close range, police said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors said Oney walked out of his house in the 3100 block of Waco Drive with his hands in the air and peacefully surrendered to police. The shooting marks the sixth homicide this year for Simi Valley, making it one of the deadliest years in the city’s history, according to crime statistics. The FBI traditionally ranks Simi Valley as one of the safest cities of its size in the nation.

Oney was ordered to return to court on Nov. 19.