Fired Taco Bell Worker Accused of Killing Manager in Cincinnati Parking Lot After “Trying to Help” Conversation Turned Deadly
CINCINNATI, OHIO — A 21-year-old former Taco Bell employee is behind bars after allegedly shooting and killing his manager outside the restaurant’s parking lot just one day after being fired, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Jonathan Morris, has been charged with one count of murder in connection with the Aug. 29 shooting that killed 32-year-old Ryan Johnson, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors described the act as “senseless” and said the victim was only trying to help his former employee before the situation turned deadly.
Victim Fatally Shot Outside Taco Bell
The shooting happened just after midnight in the parking lot of the Taco Bell on Gest Road in Cincinnati’s Queensgate neighborhood, police said.
According to investigators, Morris returned to the restaurant where he had been fired the previous day. Witnesses told police that Johnson, who was not in uniform at the time, was in the parking lot wearing jeans and a T-shirt when Morris opened fire.
“They are devastated by this,” prosecutor David Hickenlooper said during a court hearing. “It was senseless. We believe he was only trying to help.”
Responding officers found Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police noted that no shell casings were found nearby, but they obtained a suspect description and motive details from witnesses.
Suspect Arrested Weeks Later
Authorities said Morris fled the area after the shooting, prompting a multi-week search before he was finally apprehended. Police searched his father’s home, where he reportedly lived, but did not find him there initially.
At his arraignment, prosecutors requested a $2 million bond, calling the murder a “targeted act of retaliation.”
Johnson’s grandmother also addressed the court directly, saying:
“He killed my grandson. He doesn’t need to be out. He took a life.”
However, the judge ultimately set bond at $500,000.
Defense Claims Misunderstanding and Financial Hardship
Morris’s public defender told the court that his client had no violent criminal history and was the primary caregiver for his 1-year-old son, who lives with him and his father.
Records show Morris was previously acquitted of an aggravated robbery charge in 2024.
Despite the defense’s pleas for leniency, prosecutors emphasized that the suspect evaded capture for weeks following the shooting — a detail that weighed heavily in the judge’s decision.
This tragic case underscores the growing violence linked to workplace disputes across the U.S. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for trial.
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