A former Taco Bell employee from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been charged with murder following an alleged return to the restaurant where he had been dismissed, leading to the fatal shooting of his former manager in the parking lot. The victim, a father of seven, was on break at the time of the incident.
Jonathan Morris, 21, was apprehended on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, by the Homicide Unit and Fugitive Apprehension Squad for the murder of Ryan Johnson, 32. The shooting took place shortly after midnight on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Taco Bell located on Gest Street in Queensgate, Cincinnati.
Prosecutors state that Morris was dismissed from his job at the restaurant the day before the shooting. Later that night, he allegedly returned to the location where Johnson, a manager, was on his break. Responding officers discovered Johnson in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was declared dead at the scene.
Johnson was remembered by family members as a committed father, fiancé, and employee who cherished his work. His aunt, Ebony Denton, told WCPO that he “would give you the shirt off his back.” Additionally, she mentioned that he was working when the incident occurred. Johnson’s grandmother, Valerie Davidson, described him as a positive influence and mentor to young men in the community.
Morris appeared in court for the first time before Hamilton County Municipal Judge Tyrone Yates on Thursday, October 16, 2025. During the hearing, Assistant Prosecutor David Hickenlooper highlighted the profound impact on Johnson’s large family. According to Hickenlooper, “They are devastated by this. It was senseless. We believe he was only trying to help (Morris).”
Prosecutors noted that Johnson was conversing with Morris in the parking lot when the shooting occurred, and the event was reportedly captured on video. The assistant prosecutor labeled the killing as an incomprehensible act.
At the bond hearing, Johnson’s grandmother appealed emotionally to the judge, asserting that Morris killed her grandson and should not be granted release. She requested that no bond be set due to the loss of life. The prosecution requested a $2 million bond.
Morris’ public defender argued that his client and his family lacked the financial means to afford any bond. The defense stated that Morris had only one previous encounter with authorities and had been acquitted. The court was informed that Morris resides with his father and takes care of his one-year-old son.
A Cincinnati police detective testified that authorities spent weeks searching for Morris before capturing him, as he could not be located at his father’s home, his reported residence. Morris had allegedly been evading capture since the shooting in late August.
Judge Yates ultimately set Morris’s bond at $500,000 straight, requiring the full amount rather than the usual 10 percent. If released, Morris will be under 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring. The judge clarified that bond amounts are determined by judges based on the examination of all case facts and circumstances.
The reasons behind Morris’ termination from Taco Bell were not revealed during court proceedings. Morris’ attorney stated that his client denies the charges.
Taco Bell Corp. expressed shock and sadness over the incident in a statement. The company extended condolences to the family and friends of the team member and confirmed that the location’s owner and operator are cooperating with local authorities in the investigation.
Following the shooting, Davidson spoke to media outlets, urging an end to gun violence in the community. She called for a cessation of violence, expressing concern that respect for life appears diminished. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Johnson’s family during this challenging period.
Morris is due to appear before a grand jury on October 27, 2025. He remains in custody at the Hamilton County jail on the murder charge. The Cincinnati Police Department continues to investigate the shooting’s circumstances and has requested any surveillance footage from the Gest Street lot to aid their inquiry.
