Law license suspended for man accused of attempted Toledo restaurant shooting

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court approved a motion to suspend the law license of Matthew Exton, a Sylvania lawyer accused in an attempted shooting at a downtown Toledo restaurant last month. 

In the May 1 decree, the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the interim remedial suspension of Exton’s license on the grounds that he is accused of “conduct that violates the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public.”

In the court order, the judge wrote that Exton did not file a response to the Toledo Bar Association’s filing to have his license suspended. Exton was immediately ordered to stop practicing law or giving legal counsel.

Exton was arrested in April after he allegedly tried to shoot someone in a downtown Toledo restaurant. According to reports WTOL 11 received from TPD, Exton, 42, walked into 139 South Huron St. with a loaded firearm and pointed it at a victim and attempted to fire the weapon, but it failed to discharge, as it appeared to still have the safety on. 

Police say that Exton then brought the weapon closer to manipulate the safety in what appeared to be another attempt to fire the weapon, something Toledo police corroborated. 

Exton was then tackled by patrons and detained by police.

Exton has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to one count of attempted murder and three counts of felonious assault. 

The Lucas County Court of Common Pleas judge ordered evaluations of Exton’s insanity and competency. A hearing for the latter is scheduled for June 4.

His pretrial is scheduled for May 21.