Leestown custodian's murder case waived to grand jury

A Fayette County grand jury will hear the case of a man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a fellow custodian at Leestown Middle School.

Brian Allen McGuire, 27, appeared Monday in district court for a preliminary hearing in the shooting death of José Daniel Donato on June 9.

McGuire and Donato, 38, were custodians at Leestown and had a history of conflict, school officials have said. According to court documents, McGuire approached Donato, shot him multiple times and ran out of the school's cafeteria. A witness told Lexington police that he and Donato were working together in the school when McGuire walked toward them with a handgun and shot Donato, according to an arrest warrant filed in Fayette District Court. Another witness in the building said he heard seven to 10 shots, the warrant says.

McGuire fled and led police on a 30-hour manhunt. He turned himself into authorities June 10 in Grain Valley, Mo., nearly 600 miles from Lexington.

McGuire has pleaded not guilty.

This story was originally published June 29, 2009 at 9:49 AM with the headline "Leestown custodian's murder case waived to grand jury."