In the evening hours of Thursday, November 6, 2025, a violent incident cut short the life of 22-year-old Jayson Brown in Toledo, Ohio. Emergency crews were dispatched to ZaZa Wood Fired Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine located in the Executive Market Place shopping center just before 8:40 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Brown inside the restaurant, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries shortly after 10:20 p.m. The Lucas County Coroner's Office later ruled his death a homicide.
The events that led to the fatal shooting were characterized by investigators as an attempted robbery of the restaurant. In the days that followed, the Toledo Police Department identified and apprehended two individuals in connection with Brown's death. Taylor Raths, 34, was arrested, and a warrant was issued for 39-year-old Ronald Hurst. Hurst was subsequently taken into custody on Sunday afternoon. Both Raths and Hurst have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
According to court documents, it is alleged that Raths and Hurst orchestrated an assault within the restaurant, which included the use of mace on the occupants. Hurst also faces accusations of misleading investigators regarding his involvement and location during the incident. While it has been established that Brown was shot by someone inside the pizzeria during the attempted robbery, authorities have not publicly specified who fired the fatal shots. Both suspects were arraigned in Toledo Municipal Court, where a judge set their bonds. The investigation into the full scope of the incident remains ongoing.
