Restaurant Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty After Dine and Dash Incident
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Ronald Winter pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault after shooting a Texas Roadhouse employee during a dine-and-dash incident.
- The 24-year-old shot the manager in the shoulder when tackled while attempting to flee without paying; employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
- Winter was apprehended hours later with a handgun and faces preliminary hearing June 22 with $25,000 bond despite no prior criminal record.
Arraignment Details
A Kentucky man charged in connection with shooting a Texas Roadhouse employee pleaded not guilty in court on Saturday, June 13 . Ronald Winter, 24, from Shepherdsville faces second-degree assault charges after the shooting left one person injured, with bond set at $25,000 full cash .
The court initially requested that Winter be released on his own recognizance, but the judge maintained the $25,000 bond due to the nature of the offense . Winter has no previous criminal record , which likely influenced his attorney's request for release without bond.
The Incident
LMPD officers responded to a report of a shooting at Texas Roadhouse, 3322 Old Outer Loop, around 6:11 p.m. on June 11 . According to court documents, when Winter tried to leave the restaurant without paying, a manager grabbed his arm .
Winter then reportedly reached for his waistband and the employee tackled him, which was followed by a gunshot . Upon arrival, officers found the employee suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and rendered aid until emergency services arrived, taking him to UofL Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries .
The employee was able to describe Winter, who had fled the scene in a red Ford Ranger, to police before Winter was found a few hours later near Highway 44 in Shepherdsville . Bullitt County Sheriff's deputies found Winter with a black handgun and a shell casing in the chamber .
Legal Proceedings
The case highlights the serious consequences that can arise from seemingly minor disputes. What began as an attempt to avoid paying for a meal escalated into a violent confrontation that left an employee hospitalized and a young man facing serious criminal charges.
Texas Roadhouse later confirmed that the injured employee was stable , providing some relief amid the troubling circumstances. Winter is expected to next appear in court on Monday, June 22, for a preliminary hearing , where prosecutors will present evidence to determine if the case should proceed to trial.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate when firearms are involved. The combination of attempted theft, physical confrontation, and gun violence demonstrates the complex challenges facing both law enforcement and the justice system in addressing crimes that span multiple serious offenses.