CINCINNATI, OH – A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of his former manager outside a Taco Bell in Cincinnati. Jonathan Morris faces one count of murder following the incident that occurred early on August 29.
According to law enforcement, Morris allegedly shot 32-year-old Ryan Johnson just after midnight in the parking lot of the fast-food restaurant on Gest Road. Morris had reportedly been fired from his job the day before the shooting.
“They are devastated by this,” prosecutor David Hickenlooper stated during a court session on Thursday, speaking of the victim’s family. Johnson was discovered by police suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time of the incident, Johnson was not in uniform. Witnesses provided police with a description of the alleged shooter and the motive for the crime is believed to relate to Morris’s termination.
During a court hearing, bond was set at $500,000 after the prosecution requested a $2 million bond. Morris’s attorney indicated that his client could not afford the bond, and noted that Morris is a primary caregiver for his young child.
Morris previously faced an aggravated robbery charge in September 2023 but was acquitted in March. Police stated efforts to locate Morris took weeks before his capture.
If released on bond, Morris will be subject to electronic monitoring and house arrest. The case continues to unfold as both sides prepare for further legal proceedings.
A tragic workplace dispute has left one man dead and another facing serious charges.
