A violent outburst at a Memphis bar has led to the arrest of a married couple who are accused of shooting a woman after being removed from the establishment.
Married couple shoot bar patron after being booted
Authorities say Jose Montoya, 27, and his wife Judith Ramirez, 26, were arrested on Sunday following a shooting that left a woman critically injured.
Both Montoya and Ramirez are facing multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and property damage estimated between $10,000 and $60,000, according to court filings.
Law enforcement officers from the Memphis Police Department were dispatched to the Tequila Town Bar shortly after midnight on June 15, 2025.
Responding officers were met by a security guard who had been on duty during the incident.
The guard told police that the bar owner had approached him concerning Montoya, who was allegedly behaving erratically inside.
When the guard attempted to intervene and calm the situation, Montoya reportedly became confrontational. The guard then escorted Montoya and his wife, later identified as Ramirez, outside.
“During the Escort, Montoya said ‘Y’all done f— up now,'” the affidavit noted. It was then that Ramirez allegedly opened a vehicle door, allowing Montoya to grab a gun.
“[The security guard] advised that he observed Jose go to his vehicle, retrieve a firearm, and begin firing shots at him. [The security guard] returned fire in self-defense,” the affidavit said.
“During the shooting, Montoya reloaded his firearm multiple times and continued shooting at [The security guard]. Both Ramirez and Montoya fled the scene without rendering aid to the victim.”
During the crossfire, a female patron inside the bar was struck in the back of the head. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
In addition to the wounded victim, several vehicles in the vicinity sustained damage from the gunfire.
Married couple flee scene of the crime
Authorities said the suspects fled the scene in a gray 2025 Kia SUV, which was later located in the driveway of a home on Josibpet Lane. Officers searched the SUV and recovered several spent shell casings.
A separate vehicle parked at the residence contained a black and green handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.
Both suspects were found inside the home and taken into custody without incident.
They are currently behind bars at the Shelby County Jail. Montoya’s bond was set at $250,000, while Ramirez’s bond has been set at $300,000.
Meanwhile, in Florida, a separate case involving firearm threats at a restaurant ended with the arrest of a 25-year-old man.
Patron pulls gun on restaurant staff
According to police in Ormond Beach, a group of four patrons caused a disturbance at the Fresh Guacamole Tequila & Bar Mexican Grill on May 6 after taking issue with their bill.
An altercation erupted, prompting a restaurant employee to intervene and attempt to defuse the tension by permitting the group to leave without paying. The free food reportedly failed to calm the situation.
A female in the group began banging on the cashier’s plexiglass barrier. Police said she then managed to bypass the partition and aggressively moved toward four staff members, one of whom was a teenage boy.
As the argument escalated, the woman began shouting in the face of one staffer. Police said the teenage boy stepped forward in defense of his father, who also works at the restaurant.
At that moment, surveillance footage captured a male individual reaching into a bag, drawing a handgun, and pointing it at the employees.
The female associate reportedly shoved the armed man toward the exit, and the pair quickly left the eatery.
Over the following month, detectives utilized photo lineups and facial recognition tools provided by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to identify the gunman as Anthony Rodriguez, 25, of Daytona Beach.
A public bulletin posted to Facebook by the Ormond Beach Police Department on June 3 detailed the charges against Rodriguez.
“An investigation determined Rodriguez brandished a firearm toward restaurant staff, including a juvenile, during an altercation. No injuries were reported,” the statement said.
Authorities appealed to the public for assistance in locating Rodriguez, who was wanted on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Rodriguez turned himself in on June 5. Jail records show he was processed that evening and released the following day. His bond was set at $30,000.
