Man arrested in connection with attempted murder of Opa-locka City Commission candidate

MIAMI – A man was arrested Wednesday night in connection with an alleged assassination attempt on an Opa-locka City Council candidate.

According to arrest records, 50-year-old Anthony Mitchell was arrested for the attempted murder of Chris Davis.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Opa-locka police were called to an assault in progress at 2270 Burlington Street, where officers encountered Davis, Mitchell and another man named Tommy Johnson, all of whom had minor injuries and scratches.

According to arrest documents, Davis said he was driving west on Burlington Street from Northwest 22nd Avenue when he saw Mitchell and Johnson standing outside a home at 2270 Rutland Street. Davis told officers his window was rolled down and he recognized them as two men active in city politics. Davis added he is currently running for a seat on the Opa-locka City Commission, arrest documents state.

Davis said he had just returned from the store with lumber and campaign sign materials when he pulled into his driveway and walked to the corner of Rutland and 22nd Avenue when Johnson confronted him in the middle of the street and then swung at him, arrest documents say. Davis ducked and dodged Johnson before striking Johnson's head himself, knocking him unconscious to the ground.

Davis later told police that while he was fighting with Johnson, Mitchell came out into the street, put him in a headlock and then began fighting with each other.

Davis eventually got tired of fighting and tried to run away before Johnson allegedly threatened him, believing he was going to be shot, arrest records say. Davis then ran toward his house and when he looked back, he allegedly saw Johnson assume a “tactical one-knee stance” and prepare to shoot him. Davis said he then jumped in his car and pulled out of his driveway to avoid being shot, and then heard “multiple gunshots” coming from Johnson's direction, arrest records say.

Davis then drove from his house to the west end of the street before returning home some time later. When he got out of his car, he told police he found a bullet hole in the driver's door and the bullet did not go through the interior layer, arrest documents say.

When police spoke with Johnson, he admitted to fighting with Davis in the street but denied shooting him. Police also spoke to Davis' neighbor, who said he heard at least two gunshots from the east side of Davis' house and saw him drive away at a “high rate of speed,” arrest documents say.

Police then spoke with Mitchell, who also admitted to fighting Davis, but Davis instigated the fight, and also denied the shooting. According to arrest records, Mitchell said the fight occurred because he and Johnson were supporting “Commissioner Kelly and Brian Davis for the City Council seat.”

CBS News Miami has not confirmed these claims, and police have not said whether Johnson was also arrested.