Florida Man Sentenced to Life for Shooting Mom of Twins 10 Times in The Back After Bar Fight Over Harassment
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — A 27-year-old Florida man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of fatally shooting a 25-year-old mother of twins during a chaotic bar fight in Pensacola. Prosecutors say the woman, Tierra Binion, was shot 10 times in the back by Christian Ketchup following a violent confrontation that began when she told off a man for harassing her and another woman “about their bodies.”
Bar Fight Over Harassment Escalates Into Deadly Violence
The deadly incident occurred on August 23, 2023 at Mugs & Jugs, a bar and package store on Scenic Highway where customers can drink on-site or grab alcohol to go. The confrontation began when Binion and a companion confronted a man who was making lewd comments toward them.
Video surveillance played at trial shows the fight spilling out into the parking lot. Binion initially fought with Rachel DeRise, Ketchup’s girlfriend, before Ketchup violently inserted himself into the altercation.
According to testimony, Ketchup ran toward Binion, punched her, and knocked her to the ground.
“This defendant essentially interjected himself into a fight that he had absolutely nothing to do with,”
prosecutor Bridgette Myers Jensen told the court.
While Binion lay unconscious, DeRise repeatedly punched her. DeRise later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and one year of probation.
But Ketchup escalated the situation far further.
Prosecutors Say Ketchup Shot Binion 10 Times While Her Back Was Turned
After knocking Binion down, Ketchup drew his firearm and shot her repeatedly — 10 times, directly into her back. Witnesses said he “unloaded” the gun while she was unarmed and defenseless.
An Uber driver who arrived during the confrontation told deputies he saw Ketchup strike Binion before firing at her multiple times. Investigators ultimately located 25 shell casings, marking two separate firing locations.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Ketchup’s claim of self-defense was completely implausible.
“It was not reasonable for him to shoot an unarmed lady in the back 10 times,”
Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Trey Myers said.
The defense insisted Ketchup believed Binion was armed because she allegedly used the phrase “my gun” earlier in the night. Ketchup’s attorney also said the bar’s clientele was commonly armed, contributing to his claimed fear. But the prosecution emphasized that no weapon belonging to Binion was ever recovered.
Victim’s Sister Calls Life Sentence “Justice”
After Ketchup was convicted in September on one count of second-degree murder with a firearm, Judge Amy Brodersen sentenced him to life in prison without parole and ordered him to pay $7,500 to a victim compensation fund.
Binion’s family expressed relief at the verdict.
“My opinion is life is justice,”
her sister told local reporters.
“I expected nothing less.”
Court documents and witness statements revealed that Binion had no involvement with Ketchup prior to the fight — and that the initial harassment complaint was directed at a different man entirely.
Ketchup later called 911 and confessed, telling deputies:
“I f–ed up. I’m not a f–ing killer. I don’t do that. That’s not me.”
But the evidence, prosecutors argued, told a very different story.
A Deadly Choice That Had Nothing To Do With Him
During closing arguments, prosecutors dismantled the idea that Ketchup was protecting anyone. Instead, they said he escalated a situation he could have walked away from.
“It was not reasonable for him to lose his cool when his drunken girlfriend got knocked down being too close to a fight,”
Myers told jurors.
He added that Ketchup wanted to “be the big man,” inserting himself where he didn’t belong and then choosing deadly force against a woman who was already on the ground.
Investigators say the fight only turned deadly because Ketchup — who was not even the target of the women’s initial complaint — made himself part of the conflict.
As Pensacola continues to react to the verdict, the case stands as a chilling reminder of how quickly violence can erupt when alcohol, harassment, and firearms collide. For more updates on court cases, community stories, and breaking news, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.