APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — The suspect involved in a deadly shooting in Apache Junction received an eviction notice prior to the shooting, authorities said.
Just after 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 24, Apache Junction police officers were sent to the scene in response to a report of a shooting involving two men. When the officers arrived, they found a man with “obvious gunshot wound(s)” to the head area. Officers pronounced the man, later identified as 66-year-old Fredrick Bevington, dead on the scene just after 2 p.m.
At approximately 2:18 p.m. a man later identified as 73-year-old William Porter, was detained in his trailer lot, which was right next door to the victim. Porter was barricaded inside his home, police said. Police evacuated people in neighboring homes as they worked to get the man to surrender. During the standoff, Porter fired several shots while inside the home, police said.
Police said Porter eventually responded to negotiators and turned himself in. While detained, officers said Porter asked if Bevington was dead, “expressing his hope that [Bevington] was dead and [Porter’s] regret at not witnessing the shooting.”
Porter then admitted to detectives that he shot Bevington, who was Porter’s neighbor, due to an “on-going dispute.” Porter also told detectives that he intended to kill both Bevington and his girlfriend, after Porter received an eviction notice, police said. Porter said he planned the shooting for several weeks, mentioning a history of disputes and harassment with the victim.
Porter was released from the hospital and then was transported to the Apache Junction Police Department, where he was booked on first degree murder.
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