Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, say a man was kicked out of a bar, only to return half an hour later armed with a machete and brass knuckles to attack another patron. The violent incident, which left one victim seriously injured, occurred in the early morning hours of August 9.
According to arrest records, 39-year-old Matthew King is now facing multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with intent to kill or inflict serious injury.
The altercation began around 2 a.m. inside The Public House, a bar located on South Brevard Street in Uptown Charlotte. Police reports state that King became engaged in a heated argument with another man inside the establishment. When the dispute turned physical, bar staff intervened and ejected King from the premises.
Roughly 30 minutes later, King allegedly returned, this time carrying a pair of brass knuckles and a machete-style blade measuring about 18 inches in length. Witnesses told police that King approached the man he had previously fought with, sneaking up from behind before allegedly saying, “Remember me?”
The affidavit alleges that King then attempted to strike the victim in the head with the brass knuckles before swinging the machete down toward the man’s skull. The victim raised his hand to block the blow, sustaining a severe laceration that required immediate medical attention.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as several bar patrons rushed to subdue King. The group tackled him to the ground and managed to disarm him, though not before he injured a second man who was trying to stop the attack. That individual suffered a minor cut to his thigh.
Police officers arrived to find King and his victim outside the bar. King was reportedly “covered in blood,” still carrying the machete and brass knuckles. Officers secured the weapons and collected multiple witness statements that corroborated the victims’ accounts of the assault.
Emergency responders transported the main victim to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for his hand injuries. Doctors expect him to recover. King was also treated for injuries he sustained during the scuffle with patrons who subdued him.
Following medical treatment, King was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail. Court records show he remains in custody on the serious felony charges, with a court appearance expected in the coming days.
The incident has raised concerns among local residents about violence in Charlotte’s busy nightlife district. Police emphasized that swift action from bystanders likely prevented the attack from becoming fatal, crediting their intervention with saving the victim’s life.
As the investigation continues, King faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of attempted murder and related charges. Authorities said the case highlights the dangers of violent escalations inside nightlife venues and praised the cooperation of witnesses who stayed at the scene to provide detailed statements.
