McDonald's employee accused of attempted murder, shooting ex-girlfriend, manager
A McDonald's employee accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and her manager at a US restaurant has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges.
Twenty-year-old Zachary Allart is accused of shooting his former partner Jayla Frost, and Denise Higgins about 11pm Wednesday last week at a McDonald's in suburban Cincinnati.
He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly shooting his two colleagues, court records show.
Ms Higgins was reportedly shot in the back, and Ms Frost in the head and face. The pair were rushed to hospital, both fighting for life in a critical condition.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said Allart put a gun to his head and threatened to kill himself before deputies persuaded him to put the gun down and surrender.
A Hamilton County Sheriff's Office detective Joe Bennett told Fox19 Allart, who had worked at McDonald’s for two years, drew his gun after a manager asked him to leave the store following an argument.
“He was being persistent, he wanted to talk to one of the victims and when that wasn't happening, that's when the incident occurred," Let Bennett said.
"One of the victims was shot twice in the head and the other victim was shot in the back."
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Mike Robison told WLWT-TV the community of Anderson Township, where the shooting took place, was usually a “very safe” area.
“[We] usually don’t have to deal with anything like this, but you can’t predict a random act of violence like this,” he said.
Allart pleaded not guilty Friday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Judge Josh Berkowitz called the incident “grave” and said "the situation could not be more serious or more disturbing".
He ordered Allart to have "absolutely no contact" with the victims.
Bond was set at $4 million due to the violent nature of the shooting.
The case continues on December 22.
