Inset: Matthew King (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area near The Public House bar at 300 S Brevard St, Charlotte, N.C., where Matthew King allegedly unleashed his machete attack (Google Maps).
A North Carolina man is accused of being booted from a bar and returning 30 minutes later with a “large machete” and a pair of brass knuckles, which he used to try to kill a patron who got him kicked out, police say.
Matthew King, 39, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflicting serious injury in connection with the Aug. 9 incident, according to online records.
King’s arrest affidavit details how he allegedly got into a “verbal altercation” with another man inside The Public House at 300 S Brevard St. in Uptown Charlotte at around 2 a.m. before being kicked out by employees after the dispute “became physical,” per police.
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“Approximately 30 minutes later, King returned to the bar armed with pair of brass knuckles and large machete style blade approximately 18 inches in length,” the affidavit says. “King approached [the victim] from behind and stated ‘remember me?'” the document alleges. “[King] attempted to strike [the victim] in the head with the brass knuckles, then swung the machete from overhead towards [the victim’s] head.”
The man being attacked told authorities he was sliced open by King’s machete — causing a “large laceration” — while trying to block his blows with one of his hands. He and multiple witnesses allegedly took King to the ground and “disarmed” him with a beatdown of their own, cops say.
The victim was transported to a local hospital due to his injuries, which required surgery. Another man who was with him and trying to stop the violence suffered a minor laceration to his right thigh while disarming King, police say.
When the cops arrived, King was allegedly found “covered in blood” outside The Public House, along with his victim. He allegedly had the machete and brass knuckles still on him, according to the affidavit.
“Multiple witnesses remained on scene and provided written statements to officers which corroborated the victims’ stories,” the affidavit says.
King was treated for injuries sustained during the incident before being arrested and booked at the Mecklenburg County Jail. His next court date is pending.
