According to a report by Law and Crime on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, William George Porter, was arrested for reportedly killing his 66-year-old neighbor and landlord, Fredrick Bevington, shortly after receiving an eviction notice.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 24, when officers from the Apache Junction Police Department responded to a residence in the 400 block of South Ironwood Drive, situated approximately 30 miles east of Phoenix.
Fredrick Bevington, who had recently taken on the role of landlord for William Porter, aged 73, had served him with an eviction notice, a move that allegedly triggered Porter’s sinister plan.
Porter’s alleged intentions had reportedly been festering for weeks, leading to a horrifying and deadly outcome.
Authorities swiftly located the suspect, William Porter, inside his home, which was adjacent to the victim’s residence.
The situation escalated when Porter discharged two rounds before finally complying with the police’s instructions.
He was subsequently taken into custody without further violence.
Disturbing details emerged during the investigation.
An affidavit released by law enforcement revealed that Porter had confessed to his intentions to kill both Fredrick Bevington and Bevington’s girlfriend following the eviction notice.
Police disclosed disturbing facts, including Porter’s intention to harm Bevington’s girlfriend.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 24, when officers from the Apache Junction Police Department responded to a residence in the 400 block of South Ironwood Drive, situated approximately 30 miles east of Phoenix.
Fredrick Bevington, who had recently taken on the role of landlord for William Porter, aged 73, had served him with an eviction notice, a move that allegedly triggered Porter’s sinister plan.
Porter’s alleged intentions had reportedly been festering for weeks, leading to a horrifying and deadly outcome.
Authorities swiftly located the suspect, William Porter, inside his home, which was adjacent to the victim’s residence.
The situation escalated when Porter discharged two rounds before finally complying with the police’s instructions.
He was subsequently taken into custody without further violence.
Disturbing details emerged during the investigation.
An affidavit released by law enforcement revealed that Porter had confessed to his intentions to kill both Fredrick Bevington and Bevington’s girlfriend following the eviction notice.
The affidavit stated, “William Porter revealed that he intended to kill both [Bevington and Bevington’s girlfriend] after receiving an eviction notice.
He mentioned a history of disputes and harassment with the victim and expressed regret at not being able to shoot [Bevington’s girlfriend] as well.”
When police initially arrived at the scene, they observed an evident gunshot wound to Bevington’s head.
He was declared dead around 3:07 p.m.
Shortly after this, Porter ended the standoff and came out of his trailer.
Porter made spontaneous remarks and inquired about Bevington’s condition, expressing hope that Bevington was dead and regret at not witnessing the shooting.
Porter elaborated that he had been plotting the shooting for weeks but chose Sunday for the act because Bevington had deviated from his usual routine by parking his truck outside the driveway.
This gave Porter an unobstructed view of the table where Bevington was seated when the alleged shooting occurred.
The tragic incident has left the community in grief, as friends, neighbors, and authorities attempt to make sense of the senseless act.
Fredrick Bevington’s murder has drawn widespread attention, not only locally but also nationally, highlighting the devastating consequences of conflicts and disputes escalating to such extreme and deadly levels.
Law enforcement officials have taken swift action, charging William George Porter with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Fredrick Bevington.
As the investigation unfolds and the legal process advances, the residents of Apache Junction, Arizona, will undoubtedly struggle with the lasting impact of this terrible event, while authorities work diligently to ensure that justice is served in this case.
