Man who shot Lachey's Bar employee in the face sentenced to 8 years in prison

A man who shot a Lachey's Bar employee in the face, severely injuring her, pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The shooting happened early Thanksgiving morning last year outside the Over-the-Rhine business, which closed in February.

Ellie Richardson, a bar manager, was walking to her car when she was almost struck by a van driven by 36-year-old Lavoris Hightower. An argument ensued, and prosecutors said Hightower fired one shot, which struck Richardson in the face.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jerome Metz imposed a sentence that had been agreed to as part of the plea.

Hightower, who initially faced charges including attempted murder, pleaded guilty to felonious assault and a gun charge.

“When the evidence is overwhelming, I still have to make certain my client is treated fairly, regardless of how egregious or horrific the crime may be," said Hightower's attorney, Clyde Bennett II. “And in this case, Mr. Hightower was treated fairly, and it was a fair sentence."

Richardson was released from the hospital a month after the shooting, and said in a February Facebook post that her recovery is going well, although she has "a long road ahead of me with physical therapy."