A Michigan resident, Robert Monit, 42, has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison following his conviction for shooting his fiancee in the face at an Olive Garden restaurant in 2024. Monit was found guilty of 10 felonies and one misdemeanor related to the incident that took place on June 2, 2024. The victim, Melissa Guerra, 42, who was engaged to Monit, testified in his defense, asserting that the shooting was unintentional.
Eyewitnesses at the scene in Midland, Michigan, however, contradicted Guerra’s claims. They testified that they saw Monit assault Guerra. One diner at the restaurant reported hearing Monit shout, “The stupid b— deserves to die” before he assaulted her with the firearm.
Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Beale handed down Monit’s sentence on Wednesday, which could extend to 35 years. Monit’s convictions encompassed assault with intent to murder, aggravated domestic assault, six counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, and other firearm-related felonies, in addition to a misdemeanor charge, according to court documents.
The bullet fired by Monit struck Guerra in the face, entering her left ear and exiting through her right eye. The trial included testimonies from Midland Police Department officers who apprehended Monit post-shooting. The officers testified that Monit identified himself as “Satan” and proceeded to curse, bite, and spit at them, all of which was recorded on body camera.
Additional testimonies came from other restaurant patrons. Erna Nash, who was dining at the Olive Garden with her sister and nephew, testified that she saw Monit with the gun and witnessed him fire it. She also reported hearing Monit’s threatening shout and seeing him assault Guerra with the gun.
James Reau, another diner, testified that he saw Monit holding Guerra by her hair and hitting her with his left hand. Despite these testimonies, Guerra maintained in court that she did not recall being shot or assaulted, and insisted that Monit was not capable of causing harm. She and Monit’s defense team insisted that the shooting was unintentional.
During her testimony, Guerra explained that Monit was under significant stress due to her ex-husband. On the night of the incident, Monit believed her ex-husband was in the restaurant’s parking lot and intended to harm them. Reau testified that when he asked Monit why he shot Guerra, Monit replied, “They were going to kill me. They were waiting in the parking lot.”
Guerra also testified that she was unaware that Monit was armed that night. She noted a change in his demeanor before the shooting and stated that she has not spoken to him since. Prosecutors suggested that the couple had gone to the restaurant to end their relationship, a claim Guerra denied.