Former Ohio attorney convicted of trying to shoot ex-wife at restaurant

An Ohio man has been convicted of trying to kill his ex-wife, whom he allegedly attempted to shoot while she was dining with her family at a Toledo restaurant last year. The incident was captured on surveillance video.

Dig deeper:

Matthew Exton, 43, a former attorney, was having a drink at Souk restaurant on April 11, 2025, when he saw his ex-wife, Kada Malone, dining with her parents at the nearby Italian restaurant Sabira, according to the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office.

Exton entered Sabira, ordered a drink for Malone's table, spat in the family's direction and left.

Surveillance video shows Exton returning with a handgun. He pressed the weapon against Malone's head and pulled the trigger as she raised her hands in front of her face.

The gun did not fire because its safety was still engaged, prosecutors said. A waiter then tackled Exton from behind before he could try to shoot Malone again.

What they're saying:

Authorities said a round was loaded in the chamber, while seven additional bullets were in the magazine.

"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," Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Julia R. Bates said in a statement. "The employees and patrons who stepped in to stop the defendant that day are heroes."

Bates also praised the jury after it found Exton guilty Sept. 4 of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault and two firearm specifications connected to all three charges.

The felonious assault charges involved Malone's parents, Jeannie Malone and Charles Malone.

Exton had an outburst in the courtroom after the verdict and was removed.

The backstory:

During closing arguments, prosecutors cited a voicemail Exton left for Malone before the attempted shooting that referenced the Johnny Cash lyric "Sooner or later God will cut you down," WTOL 11 reported.

Prosecutors described the message as threatening behavior that shed light on Exton's motive and state of mind before the shooting attempt.

Exton appeared to object to the prosecutor's characterization of the voicemail and began screaming the lyrics to "God's Gonna Cut You Down" as court officers escorted him out. At another point, he formed a gun-like gesture with his fingers and pointed it at assistant Lucas County Prosecutor Rose Mock.

The judge instructed jurors to disregard Exton's behavior and not allow it to influence their deliberations.

Exton, a former lawyer and local prosecutor, is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21, 2026.

 

Ohio