NC Man Accused of Firing Gun at Firefighters

July 12, 2018
Bethlehem volunteer firefighters were investigating a reported grass fire Tuesday outside a home in Taylorsville when a man fired a gun at them.

July 12 -- An Alexander County man is accused of shooting at a group of volunteer firefighters who were responding to a call earlier this week.

Crew from the Bethlehem Volunteer Fire department were investigating a grass fire Tuesday outside a home in Taylorsville, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, when they heard a loud pop, according to a release from the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.

A man had fired a gun toward them from across the street, officials said. A firefighter ordered the man to go inside his home and then called law enforcement for assistance.

Deputies responded to the scene and arrested the man, identified as 54-year-old Michael Douglas Porter. Officials took a pistol from the scene.

Porter was charged with felony assault with deadly weapon on emergency personnel. An additional charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill was added later, according to the Statesville Record & Landmark.

Porter's fiancee told Observer news partner WBTV that he had been in an argument with a neighbor about the fire and was not aiming the gun at the firefighters but toward the ground.

___ (c)2018 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) Visit The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) at www.charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!