On Thursday night, Ohio police confirmed Lavoris Hightower, the man who allegedly shot waitress, Ellie Richardson, in the face outside of sports bar, “Lachey’s Bar,” owned by 98 Degrees singer, Nick Lachey, turned himself in.
People reports that Hightower, 36, surrendered to police, who charged him in connection with shooting of Richardson, 27, who was shot in the face while leaving Lachey’s Bar off of 12th Street in Cincinnati. While walking across the street at around 3:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, the suspect reportedly almost hit Richardson with his van. The pair apparently got into a verbal altercation before Richardson reportedly pulled out a gun and shot her in the face.
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Richardson survived the incident.
Hightower secured a lawyer before turning himself in. The attorney, Clyde Bennett II, told People that although Hightower surrendered, he did not shoot the victim in the face.
“My client is not guilty of the offense. My client says he was not there at the time of the shooting and there has not been any evidence to support that he is guilty.”
“So until or unless you give me evidence to the contrary, I’m of the opinion he didn’t do it,” added, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
LAVORIS HIGHTOWER is WANTED by @CincyPD for for the shooting of Ellie Richardson. Hightower has been indicted for Attempted Murder, Felonious Assault, Weapons Under Disability & Tampering With Evidence. Call 911 if you know his location. DO NOT APPROACH. Call 352-3040 w/ tips. pic.twitter.com/HLVhzbS2jZ
— Cincinnati Police (@CincyPD) December 7, 2017
On Friday morning, Hightower faced arraignment at the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, where he was officially charged with “attempted murder, felonious assault, weapons under disability and tampering with evidence.”