An Ohio man has been found guilty of attempting to murder his ex-wife during a dinner outing with her family at a Toledo restaurant, a shocking event that was captured by surveillance cameras.
On April 11, 2025, Matthew Exton, a 43-year-old former attorney, was drinking at Souk restaurant when he noticed his ex-wife, Kada Malone, dining with her parents at the nearby Italian eatery, Sabira. According to the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, he walked into Sabira, bought a drink for Malone’s table, spat in their direction, and then left.
Security footage later revealed Exton returning armed with a handgun, directly aiming at Malone’s head and pulling the trigger as she raised her hands defensively. Fortunately, the gun did not fire.
Prosecutors indicated that the weapon malfunctioned because the safety was still engaged. A waiter intervened, tackling Exton before he could make a second attempt on Malone’s life. Authorities later confirmed there was a round in the chamber, along with seven additional bullets in the magazine.
According to Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Julia R. Bates, Exton came to the restaurant with malice and the intent to harm Malone. She commended the patrons and staff who intervened during the crisis as heroes.
Bates also expressed gratitude to the jury, which found Exton guilty on September 4 of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and firearm specifications related to each count.
The felonious assault charges pertained to Malone’s parents, Jeannie and Charles Malone. Notably, when the jury delivered their verdict, Exton reacted with an outburst that necessitated his removal from the courtroom.
During closing arguments, prosecutors highlighted a voicemail Exton left for Malone prior to the shooting attempt, which included the Johnny Cash lyric, “Sooner or later God will cut you down.” They posited that this message reflected his state of mind and motive leading up to the crime.
In response, Exton began shouting the lyrics to “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” while being escorted out of the courtroom. He even mimicked a gun gesture towards prosecutor Rose Mock. The judge instructed the jury to ignore Exton’s behavior and focus solely on the case at hand.
Exton, a former lawyer and local prosecutor, is set to be sentenced on September 21, 2026.
