In the early hours of a Saturday morning in Phoenix, Arizona, a confrontation inside a local bar escalated to a fatal encounter that ended the life of 43-year-old Charles Porter. The male victim, a decorated military veteran and father, was shot after an altercation on February 8, 2020, at a bar situated near Cave Creek and Greenway roads. He was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The events leading to the shooting reportedly began when another
man, Brandon Mitchell, 31, allegedly assaulted a 50-year-old man inside the establishment. Porter then confronted Mitchell about the assault, which led to an argument between the two men. The verbal dispute escalated, and Mitchell allegedly shot Porter.
Following the shooting, Mitchell was arrested and later admitted to police that he was the shooter, though he claimed he acted in self-defense. According to court documents, Mitchell told investigators he felt threatened by the man he initially assaulted, believing the man was holding a debit card and was going to use it to harm him. He further stated that he feared Porter was going to physically harm him after the initial altercation. Investigators noted that Mitchell did not claim to have seen a weapon in Porter's possession.
Porter's family remembered him as a dedicated father and a veteran who had served three tours in the Middle East before being wounded in the line of duty. His stepfather expressed profound grief, stating that a father could not ask for a better son and that the right to raise his children had been taken from him. Brandon Mitchell faced charges of second-degree murder and assault in connection with the incident.
