A Lucas County jury convicted Ohio attorney Matthew Exton, 43, of attempted murder on September 5, 2026, after finding that he walked into a crowded Toledo restaurant in April 2025 and tried to shoot his ex-wife while she was having dinner with her family. The gun did not fire because the safety was still engaged. A waiter tackled Exton before he could try again.
The conviction came after a week-long trial that included surveillance video of the incident, testimony from restaurant staff and diners, and Exton’s own account in which he admitted pointing the gun at his ex-wife but claimed he never intended to pull the trigger. The Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney described the incident as an attempted “public execution.”
Exton faces up to 25 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026. This article covers the full sequence of events at Sabira restaurant, the trial proceedings, the waiter who intervened, Exton’s defense, and the legal consequences he now faces.
What Happened at Sabira Restaurant on April 11, 2025
The incident occurred on the opening night of Sabira, a restaurant on South Huron Street in downtown Toledo. The evening was meant to be a celebration for the new business, with staff having rehearsed and conducted soft openings in preparation.
A former Ohio attorney tried to shoot his ex-wife but forgot to take the safety off…
On another note–that waiter deserves a raise pic.twitter.com/xX3awzbvAn
— ₩₳Ɽ ₱₳₮Ⱨ (@WarPath2pt0) September 9, 2026
According to the Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney’s account and trial testimony reported by WTVG, WTOL, Court TV, and Local12, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:
Exton had been drinking at Souk, a restaurant next door to Sabira. When he left Souk, he noticed his ex-wife and her family seated at a table inside Sabira. He entered the restaurant, ordered a drink at the bar to be sent to their table, and then spat toward their table as he walked out.
He left the restaurant but returned a short time later carrying a loaded Colt Defender handgun. The gun had one round in the chamber and seven additional rounds in the magazine.
Exton walked directly toward his ex-wife’s table. Prosecution witnesses testified that he pointed the gun at his ex-wife and attempted to fire. The weapon did not discharge because the safety mechanism was still engaged.
Fact Box: Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Matthew Exton, 43 |
| Occupation | Attorney (law offices in Sylvania, Ohio, and Traverse City, Michigan) |
| Date of incident | April 11, 2025 |
| Location | Sabira restaurant, South Huron Street, downtown Toledo, Ohio |
| Victim | His ex-wife (name withheld by most outlets) |
| Weapon | Loaded Colt Defender handgun (1 round chambered, 7 in magazine) |
| Why the gun did not fire | Safety was engaged |
| Verdict | Guilty of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, multiple firearm specifications |
| Sentencing date | September 21, 2026 |
| Maximum sentence | Up to 25 years in prison |
The Waiter Who Stopped the Attack
When Exton attempted to disengage the safety after his first attempt to fire, a Sabira waiter named Tracy Cole Jr. tackled him from behind. Other restaurant employees and patrons then rushed in to help restrain Exton until law enforcement arrived.
Prosecutor Rose Mary Mock told the jury during opening statements: “That waiter saved at least three lives that day.” She credited the combination of Cole’s intervention and Exton’s failure to disengage the safety with preventing what she described as a mass casualty event in a crowded dining room.
Cole’s actions have been widely praised in coverage of the case. Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Julia Bates also acknowledged the bravery of the staff and diners who stepped in, saying: “Nothing in their training and soft openings at the restaurant could have prepared the staff for what walked through that door.”
The Trial: September 1 to 5, 2026
Exton’s trial began on September 1, 2026, and lasted approximately one week. It was broadcast on Court TV.
The Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutors argued that Exton entered Sabira with the specific intent to kill his ex-wife. Mock described it in her opening statement as an attempt at a “public assassination,” saying Exton “came there with malice in his heart and a loaded gun to commit a public assassination of his ex-wife and severely injure her two parents while they were having dinner.”
The prosecution presented surveillance video showing Exton entering the restaurant, walking toward the table, and pointing the weapon. Witnesses testified to seeing him attempt to fire.
Exton’s Defense
Exton testified in his own defense. He admitted bringing the gun and pointing it at his ex-wife. However, he claimed he never intended to pull the trigger. According to The Toledo Blade’s reporting, Exton said he pointed the weapon at his ex-wife in an effort to pressure her to speed up the sale of their former home, which had been a source of ongoing dispute between them.
Exton had initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court ordered competency and sanity evaluations. He was found competent to stand trial, and in May 2026, Judge Gary Cook ruled that Exton had not been suffering from a severe mental disease or defect at the time of the incident. The insanity defense was rejected before the case reached the jury.
Exton Removed From Courtroom During Closing Arguments
The trial took an unusual turn during closing arguments when Judge Cook ordered Exton removed from the courtroom after he repeatedly interrupted prosecutors. Exton watched the verdict delivered remotely from a holding area.
Matthew Exton was found guilty of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault after attempting to shoot at his ex-wife and her family. https://t.co/Pn8lEhOeFM
— WTOL 11 (@WTOL11Toledo) September 5, 2026
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Timeline: Key Dates in the Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 11, 2025 | Exton enters Sabira restaurant, spits toward his ex-wife’s table, leaves, returns with a loaded handgun, and attempts to shoot her; waiter Tracy Cole Jr. tackles him |
| May 2025 | Ohio Supreme Court suspends Exton’s law license, citing that he posed a substantial threat of serious harm to the public |
| May 2026 | Judge Gary Cook rules Exton was not suffering from a severe mental disease or defect, rejecting the insanity defense |
| September 1, 2026 | Trial begins in Lucas County Court of Common Pleas |
| September 5, 2026 | Jury convicts Exton of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and multiple firearm specifications; acquits on one felonious assault count |
| September 21, 2026 | Sentencing scheduled |
Who Is Matthew Exton: Professional Background
Matthew Exton, 43, practiced law with offices in Sylvania, a suburb of Toledo, and in Traverse City, Michigan. His law license was suspended by the Ohio Supreme Court in May 2025, approximately one month after the incident, with the court citing concerns that he posed “a substantial threat of serious harm to the public.”
At the time of the incident, Exton and his ex-wife were divorced but still engaged in disputes related to the sale of their former home. It was this unresolved property disagreement that Exton cited in his trial testimony as the motivation for pointing the gun, though prosecutors rejected that characterization entirely, arguing the act was intended to kill.
What the Conviction Means Legally
Exton was convicted of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and multiple firearm specifications. He was acquitted on a third felonious assault count.
Under Ohio law, attempted murder carries a potential prison sentence of up to 11 years. The two felonious assault convictions and firearm specifications add additional mandatory time. Combined, Exton faces up to 25 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 21, 2026, before Judge Gary Cook. The firearm specifications carry mandatory consecutive sentences under Ohio Revised Code, meaning time on the gun charges must be served in addition to, not concurrently with, the underlying offenses.
The Prosecutor’s Statement After the Verdict
Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Julia Bates issued a detailed statement following the conviction. She said: “The defendant did not come with the intention of having a meal. He came with anger in him and with the intention to commit a public execution of his ex-wife at the restaurant that day.”
She continued: “We appreciate the jury’s service this week and we hope its decision provides some sense of closure for those seated at the table as well as the Sabira employees who were also victimized that day. The employees and patrons who stepped in to stop the defendant that day are heroes.”
The Courtroom Disruption and Remote Verdict
One of the more unusual aspects of the trial was Exton’s behavior during closing arguments. According to The Toledo Blade, Judge Cook ordered Exton removed from the courtroom after he repeatedly interrupted prosecutors during their closing statement.
Exton was taken to a holding area where he was able to watch the remainder of the proceedings on a video feed. He was not present in the courtroom when the jury returned its verdict, instead receiving the guilty finding remotely.
The removal is notable because defendants have a constitutional right to be present during their own trial. However, that right can be forfeited through disruptive conduct. A judge removing a defendant during closing arguments and the verdict is uncommon but not without precedent in cases where the defendant’s behavior is deemed to be obstructing the proceedings.
What This Case Illustrates About Domestic Violence Escalation
The Exton case has drawn attention beyond the specific facts of the incident because it illustrates a pattern recognized by domestic violence researchers: the period around and after a divorce or separation is statistically the most dangerous time for victims of intimate partner violence.
Several details from this case are consistent with documented escalation patterns:
- The unresolved property dispute served as a stated pressure point that Exton himself cited in testimony, though prosecutors argued the actual intent was lethal.
- The attack occurred in a public setting during a social occasion, where the victim may have felt safe because she was surrounded by family and other diners.
- The weapon was loaded with a full magazine, one round chambered and seven in reserve, which prosecutors argued was inconsistent with a claim of mere intimidation.
- The act was premeditated: Exton left the restaurant, retrieved a weapon, and returned, meaning there was a gap during which he could have chosen not to act.
For readers interested in resources related to domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Matthew Exton do?
Exton, a 43 year old Ohio attorney, entered a crowded Toledo restaurant on April 11, 2025, and attempted to shoot his ex-wife with a loaded handgun. The gun did not fire because the safety was engaged. A waiter tackled him before he could try again.
Why did the gun not fire?
The safety mechanism on Exton’s Colt Defender handgun was still engaged when he attempted to pull the trigger.
Who stopped Matthew Exton?
Sabira restaurant waiter Tracy Cole Jr. tackled Exton from behind as he tried to disengage the safety. Other employees and patrons helped restrain him until police arrived.
What was Exton convicted of?
He was found guilty of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and multiple firearm specifications. He was acquitted on one felonious assault count.
What sentence does Exton face?
He faces up to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September 21, 2026.
Did Exton claim insanity?
He initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the court rejected the defense after a judge ruled he was not suffering from a severe mental disease or defect at the time of the incident.
Is Exton still a licensed attorney?
No. The Ohio Supreme Court suspended his law license in May 2025.
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Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
