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Toledo lawyer convicted of attempted murder after restaurant shooting attempt
Matthew Exton, a 43-year-old former criminal defense attorney, has been found guilty of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault following an incident at Sabira, an Italian restaurant in Toledo, Ohio.
On April 11, 2025, during the restaurant's opening night, Exton entered the establishment and targeted his ex-wife, Kayda Valone, who was dining with her family. Prosecutors stated that Exton had been drinking at a nearby bar before approaching the table with a loaded handgun. Surveillance footage captured the moment Exton aimed the weapon at Valone and attempted to pull the trigger; however, the gun failed to discharge because the safety was still engaged.
During the confrontation, waiter Tracy Cole, Jr., along with several other patrons, intervened by tackling and pinning Exton to the ground. Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates described the event as a planned attempt at a “public execution.” Exton had previously testified that he did not intend to fire the weapon but was attempting to pressure his ex-wife regarding a home sale. His law license was suspended in May 2025.
Entities
Julia Bates · Kayda Valone · Matthew Exton · Sabira · Toledo · Toledo, Ohio · Tracy Cole, Jr.
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Matthew Exton was found guilty of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Waiter Tracy Cole, Jr. tackled Matthew Exton to the ground during the incident. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The gun failed to discharge because the safety was left on. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Exton intended to commit a public execution of his ex-wife. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Exton's law license was suspended in May 2025. pulptastic.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Exton testified that he did not intend to pull the trigger. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The incident occurred on April 11, 2025, at the Sabira restaurant in Toledo, Ohio. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The handgun used by Exton had one round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine. offthepress.com · pulptastic.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.dailymail.com