A well respected Philadelphia disc jockey and philanthropist was killed in a drive-by shooting on Sunday near a Wikes-Barre, Penn. bar. Michael Onley, primarily known as ‘DJ Mo’, was struck down in the wee hours of Sunday while escorting a female friend to her car, a friend of Michael told WNEP.
“I think it was careless, random act,” told a tearful fellow DJ and friend, DJ Eldorado to the Times Tribune. “He just happened to be in the cross hairs.”
Ironically enough, the groom-to-be and father of a 10-year-old son fell victim to gun violence, a crime that WCLH radio host was very much familiar with. Just last February 2012, Onley’s 30-year-old brother, Anthony, was struck in the head with a stray bullet in South Carolina.
The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin occurred in the same month. Both incidents inspired Onley to campaign and participate in anti-gun violence rallies and organizations. He fought consistently on behalf of those who don’t have a voice, and unfortunately, this very violence silenced his own voice as well.
Before his untimely death, the beloved DJ was seen volunteering at an event held in Scranton, PA to raise money for brain cancer research for children. Unlike many well-known local radio hosts, Onley often indulged in acts of philanthropy. Along with working unpaid hours at the Wikes University radio station and lending a helping hand to local talents in Philadelphia, the DJ was a strong advocate against drugs and violence in schools.
“He’s been in this area for a long time and he stood for everything that was right,” said Onley’s friend, Joe Ronaldo.
“That’s why he was respected by everybody.”
Casey Murray, another close friend of Onley, said the disc jockey often held events in memory of his slain brother and was planning on taking in the daughters of 30-year-old Anthony.”Mike has so many memorial events for his brother, and Mike and his fiance were planning on getting a house to take in his nieces,” said Murray to PA Homepage.
Onley’s nieces were said to have been present when his brother Anthony was shot in his South Carolina home. Before bullets rang, Anthony advised his girls– then 3 and 6, to hide under the bed as several men barged through their front door, armed and loaded, reported the Citizens voice.
No suspects have been arrested in relation to Onley’s death.
