A Louisville man accused of shooting a Texas Roadhouse employee in Okolona is back in custody after a grand jury returned a 13-count indictment. The case is now far more serious than the second-degree assault charge he faced after the June 11 shooting, with the new counts including firearm-related allegations involving 10 other people.
Ronald John Winter, 24, was indicted on charges including first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, tampering with physical evidence and 10 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment involving discharge of a firearm, according to WAVE News. His bond is set at $75,000, and a pretrial conference is scheduled for September 11.
How The Restaurant Shooting Unfolded
The shooting happened at the Texas Roadhouse on Old Outer Loop after an employee confronted Winter as he allegedly tried to leave without paying, according to WDRB. Court documents said Winter reached toward his waistband after the employee grabbed his arm, and the employee then tried to tackle him. During the struggle, the gun fired and struck the employee in the shoulder before Winter fled.
The injured employee, identified by WAVE as Dwight Szabo, was taken to the hospital and later released to recover at home. Winter was arrested a short time after the shooting after witnesses and surveillance footage helped investigators track his red Ford Ranger.
Case Moves From Bond Release To New Indictment
Winter initially pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault, and his bond was first set at $25,000 cash before being changed to a $50,000 property bond, WDRB reported. The case was later sent to a grand jury after a judge found enough evidence for it to proceed.
The indictment represents formal accusations, not a conviction, and Winter remains entitled to the presumption of innocence. The September 11 pretrial conference is the next major scheduled step in the case.
