Restaurant Attack Conviction
Former Attorney Convicted of Attempted Murder After Toledo Restaurant Attack
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Key Points
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Prosecutors said the handgun contained one round in the chamber and seven additional rounds in its magazine, indicating it was ready to fire when Exton approached the table.
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Surveillance video showed Valone throwing herself to the floor as people shouted, “Stop! Gun, gun, gun,” before waiter Tracy Cole Jr. tackled Exton.
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Exton testified that he had previously worked as a prosecutor in northern Michigan and became homeless after his 2024 divorce; he said he displayed the Colt Defender to pressure Valone to comply with a court order, not to shoot her.
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The jury heard that Exton’s former professional work included family-law, gun-law and bankruptcy cases, and that he practiced through law offices in Traverse City and Sylvania before the incident.
A Lucas County jury convicted former attorney Matthew Exton, 43, of attempted murder and assault after he allegedly tried to shoot his ex-wife at a Toledo restaurant's opening night on April 11, 2025. The Shade Room reported that waiter Tracy Cole Jr. tackled Exton after he pointed a loaded Colt Defender at Kayda Valone; the gun's safety was engaged, preventing the shot from firing.
Exton faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing later this month. Prosecutors said the handgun held one round in the chamber and seven more in its magazine—ready to fire. Exton testified he only meant to intimidate Valone over a divorce dispute, but the jury rejected his account and convicted him of two counts of felonious assault with firearm enhancements.
The Gun Jammed and a Waiter Stepped In
Exton walked into Sabira restaurant on April 11 after drinking at a nearby bar. TMZ reported he sent a drink to Valone's table, spat toward the group, then returned with his loaded handgun. Surveillance video showed Valone diving to the floor as patrons screamed, "Gun, gun, gun." Cole Jr. rushed forward and tackled Exton before he could fire again.
Professional Career Before the Arrest
Exton had worked as a prosecutor in northern Michigan before his 2025 arrest. Newser reported he practiced family law, gun law, and bankruptcy cases through law offices in Traverse City and Sylvania. His Ohio law license was suspended after the incident. Exton became homeless following his 2024 divorce, according to trial testimony.
How Exton Got the Gun and Why He Brought It
TMZ reported that Exton allegedly lied about being a police officer to buy the Colt Defender. At trial, he claimed he displayed the weapon to pressure Valone into following a court order related to their divorce. Prosecutors called the act "an attempted public execution" in a crowded restaurant during opening night, with her parents and restaurant staff present.
The Verdict and What Comes Next
Vinnews reported the jury convicted Exton of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault, rejecting his intimidation defense. He was acquitted of one assault count. The chilling video played during trial showed the moment Cole Jr. tackled him and other patrons and employees restrained and disarmed him. Sentencing is scheduled for later this month, with prosecutors seeking the maximum 25-year penalty.
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