Topline: Witnesses say a man slashed two people with an 18-inch machete after being removed from a Charlotte bar during a fight.
Published: August 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Matthew King (via Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)
CHARLOTTE, NC — In the early hours of Saturday, a night out in Uptown Charlotte turned violent when a man allegedly returned to a bar with a machete and brass knuckles, attacking two people after being kicked out earlier that night.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were called to the 300 block of South Brevard Street around 2 a.m. on August 9 in response to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
When they arrived, they found 39-year-old Matthew King outside the bar, bloodied and surrounded by witnesses. Nearby, officers recovered an 18-inch machete and a set of brass knuckles on a table.
The victims were identified as Kurt Lee Casey and Jeffrey Vangordon. Casey sustained a severe laceration to his left hand, while Vangordon suffered a minor cut to his thigh during the scuffle that followed.
According to WCNC, both victims and multiple witnesses gave statements consistent with what police say happened.
Investigators say the confrontation began earlier in the night when King was involved in a heated verbal dispute with Casey inside the bar. The argument escalated, turning physical, and bar staff ultimately ejected King from the premises.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police say King returned with weapons in hand and approached Casey from behind. “Remember me?” King allegedly said, before attempting to strike Casey with the brass knuckles. He then swung the machete at Casey’s head. Casey managed to block the blow with his hand, suffering a deep gash that later required surgery, according to WBTV.
Witnesses quickly intervened, reportedly tackling King and disarming him before officers arrived. Vangordon told police he was cut on the thigh during the struggle to restrain the attacker. Arrest documents cited by WCCB confirm that witnesses helped subdue King until officers took him into custody at around 2:17 a.m.
King was first taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to jail. He now faces a slate of charges, including felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Police: Man Returned to Bar He Was Kicked Out of With Machete, Injured Two
Witnesses say a man slashed two people with an 18-inch machete after being removed from a Charlotte bar during a fight.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
Matthew King (via Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)
CHARLOTTE, NC — In the early hours of Saturday, a night out in Uptown Charlotte turned violent when a man allegedly returned to a bar with a machete and brass knuckles, attacking two people after being kicked out earlier that night.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were called to the 300 block of South Brevard Street around 2 a.m. on August 9 in response to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
When they arrived, they found 39-year-old Matthew King outside the bar, bloodied and surrounded by witnesses. Nearby, officers recovered an 18-inch machete and a set of brass knuckles on a table.
The victims were identified as Kurt Lee Casey and Jeffrey Vangordon. Casey sustained a severe laceration to his left hand, while Vangordon suffered a minor cut to his thigh during the scuffle that followed.
According to WCNC, both victims and multiple witnesses gave statements consistent with what police say happened.
Investigators say the confrontation began earlier in the night when King was involved in a heated verbal dispute with Casey inside the bar. The argument escalated, turning physical, and bar staff ultimately ejected King from the premises.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police say King returned with weapons in hand and approached Casey from behind. “Remember me?” King allegedly said, before attempting to strike Casey with the brass knuckles. He then swung the machete at Casey’s head. Casey managed to block the blow with his hand, suffering a deep gash that later required surgery, according to WBTV.
Witnesses quickly intervened, reportedly tackling King and disarming him before officers arrived. Vangordon told police he was cut on the thigh during the struggle to restrain the attacker. Arrest documents cited by WCCB confirm that witnesses helped subdue King until officers took him into custody at around 2:17 a.m.
King was first taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to jail. He now faces a slate of charges, including felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: Man Returned to Bar He Was Kicked Out of With Machete, Injured Two
Witnesses say a man slashed two people with an 18-inch machete after being removed from a Charlotte bar during a fight.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
Matthew King (via Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)
CHARLOTTE, NC — In the early hours of Saturday, a night out in Uptown Charlotte turned violent when a man allegedly returned to a bar with a machete and brass knuckles, attacking two people after being kicked out earlier that night.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were called to the 300 block of South Brevard Street around 2 a.m. on August 9 in response to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
When they arrived, they found 39-year-old Matthew King outside the bar, bloodied and surrounded by witnesses. Nearby, officers recovered an 18-inch machete and a set of brass knuckles on a table.
The victims were identified as Kurt Lee Casey and Jeffrey Vangordon. Casey sustained a severe laceration to his left hand, while Vangordon suffered a minor cut to his thigh during the scuffle that followed.
According to WCNC, both victims and multiple witnesses gave statements consistent with what police say happened.
Investigators say the confrontation began earlier in the night when King was involved in a heated verbal dispute with Casey inside the bar. The argument escalated, turning physical, and bar staff ultimately ejected King from the premises.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police say King returned with weapons in hand and approached Casey from behind. “Remember me?” King allegedly said, before attempting to strike Casey with the brass knuckles. He then swung the machete at Casey’s head. Casey managed to block the blow with his hand, suffering a deep gash that later required surgery, according to WBTV.
Witnesses quickly intervened, reportedly tackling King and disarming him before officers arrived. Vangordon told police he was cut on the thigh during the struggle to restrain the attacker. Arrest documents cited by WCCB confirm that witnesses helped subdue King until officers took him into custody at around 2:17 a.m.
King was first taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to jail. He now faces a slate of charges, including felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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