Matthew Exton, a 43-year-old Ohio lawyer, was sentenced to up to 24 years in prison after pulling a loaded handgun on his ex-wife in a crowded restaurant on 11 April 2025. A waiter intervened and tackled Exton before he could fire the weapon, preventing a potential tragedy. Exton was convicted of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault following the incident at Sabira restaurant in downtown Toledo. The case drew significant attention due to dramatic surveillance footage of the attack and raises serious concerns about the dangers posed by individuals with legal access to firearms and unresolved personal disputes.

The handgun was fully loaded with eight rounds—one in the chamber and seven in the magazine—but failed to discharge initially because the safety remained engaged. Exton had been drinking at a nearby restaurant when he spotted his ex-wife dining with her family, returned with the weapon, and raised it at close range. When the gun did not fire, he attempted to manipulate it to disengage the safety. Waiter Tracy Cole Jr tackled him to the ground, and other patrons helped restrain him until police arrived. Exton claimed he had deliberately kept the safety on and was merely trying to intimidate his ex-wife into accelerating the sale of their former home, but prosecutors and the court found his actions demonstrated clear intent to kill. His Ohio law licence was suspended following the attack.