Dad Allegedly Murders Man Who Tried to Get Into Teen Daughter's Bathroom Stall: Police

Mar. 16, 2025

Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Melvin Harris III Credit: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

An Arizona father is accused of murder after police say he beat a man who allegedly tried to enter his teenage daughter’s bathroom stall at a Phoenix gas station, PEOPLE confirms.

Phoenix police say the dad, 40-year-old Melvin Harris, had driven to pick up his daughter and her friends about 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 at a QuikTrip.

While Harris waited outside, a man approached him in his car and asked for money, which Harris obliged, police said. Harris then saw the man enter the store.

Harris later learned that while his daughter was using a bathroom inside, that man allegedly had tried to enter her stall. The girl alerted a store employee, who told an on-duty security guard at the store, police say.

The daughter then pointed out the man to her father as the man was exiting the store.

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Harris left the QuikTrip but authorities tracked him to his residence, where he allegedly denied striking Armstrong while he was down and claimed Armstrong had punched him first.

Harris initially was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, but Maricopa County Jail records show he now stands accused of second-degree murder.

It’s unknown if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

He is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond and is due to enter a plea when he is formally charged on Aug. 17.

source: people.com