ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Flashing lights surrounded a Beechmont Avenue McDonald’s Wednesday night after a male employee shot two of his female coworkers, according to Hamilton County deputies.
"The employees are running out of the store," a frantic 911 caller told the dispatcher. "I'm at the drive-thru. I heard the gun going off through the speaker, and they all came running out."
Zachary Allart, 20, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder. Police say he shot his ex-girlfriend Jayla Frost twice in the head and face and manager Denise Higgins once in the back at about 10:50 p.m.
When uniformed deputies arrived, they said Allart had a gun to his head and was threatening to shoot himself. Deputies said they deescalated the situation, and Allart surrendered the firearm. They took him into custody without further incident.
"There's no reason for (the public) to feel like there's any concern for anyone's safety," said Mike Robison of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. "This does not appear to be a random act of violence. This appears to be some sort of domestic dispute."
Listen to a 911 call from one of the McDonald's employees in the audio player below.
Emergency crews took both victims to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. They remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon. Authorities took Allart to the Hamilton County Justice Center.
"The injuries to one is very critical and grave. It could very possibly be life-threatening," Robison said.
The McDonald's reopened after 4 p.m. Thursday.
In January, documents show police arrested Allart after he assaulted two employees at a UDF on Beechmont Avenue. Court documents state Allart put one male employee in a headlock and punched him repeatedly; the other victim was injured when Allart grabbed her as she tried to break up the fight.
Allart was placed on probation as part of a plea deal.
Authorities ask anyone with information related to this case to contact the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section at 513-851-6000 or Crime Stoppers 513-352-3040.
