RJ Hamster
We refused to let this go
Read in browser Your Week with AZCentralA SPOTLIGHT ON THE JOURNALISM YOUR SUBSCRIPTION HELPS BRING TO LIFE.Fri Nov 21 2025  Kathy Tulumello | News Director@kathytulumelloYou want to know the real story of what is happening in your community. A lot of what we write explains news that develops organically – what stores or restaurants open or close, who wins an election, what is being built in your neighborhood or what politicians are doing and saying. But one of our most important goals as journalists is to dig deeper when necessary. If something begs more explanation and our questions are met with silence … if statements are vague or don’t ring true … if someone in the know shares tips or documents that raise questions. That’s when our reporters investigate. This week, reporters Robert Anglen and Elena Santa Cruz dug deeper into a tragedy they had been following for months: a young man who died after a beating outside a Phoenix nightclub in March. Lots of video showed what happened. Why had no charges been brought, months later? Here’s what they had to say about their investigation. •A man was fatally punched in front of Phoenix police. Here’s what to know‘Anyone can see what happened’What disturbed you most about the case? The secrecy. Anyone can see what happened to Rafael Montoya; his fatal beating was caught on video. But police and the nightclub’s owners for months shielded the identities of those involved. That includes two off-duty police officers and the security guard who hit Montoya.Days after the March 16 beating, we got hold of video showing a group of security guards restrained Montoya when another security guard teed up and sucker-punched him with a vicious uppercut. Montoya died three days later. Videos showed the beating occurred in front of two uniformed off-duty Phoenix Police officers who were working security at the club. They did nothing to stop the guard or detain him afterwards. You can see how they walked and talked over Montoya’s body in the street as onlookers tried to render aid and urged police to act. But that’s not the story Phoenix police told. The department offered two versions of events, neither of which were supported by videos. ‘The case raised all kinds of questions’Why didn’t you let it go? The case raised all kinds of questions about accountability. Who were these officers? Who was the security guard? What kind of screening did the club do before it hired guards? We found out the club did not rely on licensed security guards. In fact, club owners solicited security on social media. Next, the officers. Phoenix police have yet to release a report on the officers. And it still hasn’t named them. We pieced together their identities and found they had been cleared of wrongdoing in Montoya’s death. They were reprimanded for failing to turn on body-worn cameras. Then the guard. We identified him as Charles “Brandon” Recor, a far-right YouTuber and a member of the Proud Boys militant extremist group. He has a violent criminal record going back decades. Recor, who is trained in martial arts, was known for provoking violent confrontations at political rallies. Why would owners hire a guy with that kind of background to work security at a popular downtown Latin nightclub? Did you expect the security guard to be charged? We found out in October that Phoenix police submitted a case against Recor and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office initially declined to prosecute him. After we published new videos and details in the case in October, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced she was reviewing the case for possible homicide charges. None came. Mitchell this month said Recor would not be charged and that Montoya died as a result of “mutual combat.” She said Montoya instigated the confrontation and was fighting with security before Recor hit him. She said she couldn’t be sure if Recor threw the fatal punch. Recor could still be charged with forgery related to his security license. ‘It’s what we do’What is your reaction? We are glad we were able to get to the truth about a killing that for months officials refused to talk about. We were able to provide answers about the case that Montoya’s family and friends could not get on their own. We offered a full public accounting of the actions by a violent felon, police officers and the prosecutor’s office. And we will continue to follow the case. It’s what we do. Why Phoenix guard won’t be charged in fatal beatingMaricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said 22-year-old Rafael Montoya died outside Club Dwntwn in Phoenix as a result of “mutual combat.”READ MORE Sign up for the news you wantExclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! We’re always working to add benefits for subscribers like you.SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ |
