In the early morning hours of December 17, 2017, a dispute that began inside a Chattanooga, Tennessee nightclub spilled out into the street, ending in the tragic death of 22-year-old Sharone Porter. A Black male, Porter and his older brother, Torrie, were in a parking lot on Cowart Street near the Coyote Jack's nightclub when an argument that started earlier escalated into deadly violence.
Witnesses reported that another man, identified as 24-year-old Roddarius Martin, became involved in
the altercation. In a sudden turn of events, Martin allegedly brandished a 9mm pistol and fired several shots into the air before turning the weapon towards the Porter brothers. While Torrie was able to flee, Sharone was struck by the gunfire. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The Chattanooga Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts led them to Roddarius Martin, who was arrested the following day. He was subsequently charged with a string of serious offenses, including criminal homicide, attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Torrie Porter, aggravated assault, and felony reckless endangerment. Investigators were able to connect Martin to the crime through witness testimony and by matching the shell casings found at the scene to a pistol he was known to possess.
Following his arrest, Martin was held on a significant bond. The case was bound over to the Grand Jury, with the defense for Martin suggesting the possibility of a second shooter being involved in the incident. Despite this claim, Martin remained the primary focus of the investigation and the sole individual charged in connection with Sharone Porter's death. The final disposition of the charges against Roddarius Martin, including details of a trial or any subsequent conviction and sentencing, are not available in the public online record.
