Ohio Lawyer
Tries To Shoot Ex-Wife In Crowded Restaurant, Fails
Published
September 9, 2026
7:21 AM PDT
An Ohio lawyer tried to gun down his ex-wife in a crowded restaurant … but prosecutors say his plan fell apart because he forgot one pretty important step — taking the safety off.
Matthew Exton walked into Sabira in Toledo in April 2025, allegedly sent a drink to his ex-wife’s table and spit toward her family before leaving … only to come back with a gun.
Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.
Prosecutors say Exton marched straight toward the table and tried to fire a bullet at his ex-wife, but the gun didn’t go off because the safety was still on … and the entire interaction was captured on video.
A waiter immediately tackled him, with several other patrons jumping in before Exton could try again.
The Lucas County prosecutor later described the scene as an attempted “public execution” … saying Exton walked in that day with one goal in mind.
Exton’s law license was suspended by the Ohio Supreme Court the following month … and a jury has now convicted the 43-year-old of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and multiple firearm specifications.
He’s set to be sentenced September 21.