Death Metal guitarist shot dead by police after violent clash over tree dispute with neighbour
A
death metal guitarist
was fatally shot by police in San Francisco following a violent altercation with a neighbour, reportedly sparked by a dispute over a tree.
Brian Montana
, guitarist for the band
Possessed
, was shot and killed by police on Monday evening after allegedly opening fire on officers responding to reports of a man brandishing a weapon.
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According to the
South San Francisco Police Department
, officers responded to a call on Arroyo Drive at 5:55 p.m. and quickly requested backup after discovering the suspect was firing into an occupied home. The shooter was later identified as 60-year-old Brian Montana.
Montana then moved to a neighboring driveway, where he took cover behind parked cars while armed with a handgun, a shotgun, and a rifle. According to police, a 25-minute gunfight followed, during which Montana fired at officers from various positions, using vehicles and nearby landscaping for cover.
'Officers took cover behind their vehicles as they came under heavy gunfire and managed to return fire,' the South San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. 'They were eventually able to hit the suspect, stopping him from continuing to shoot at officers and surrounding homes.'
After confirming that the gunman no longer posed a threat, officers approached and found him unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive him and the arrival of medical personnel, the suspect died at the scene from his injuries.
A resident from the house Montana had fired at was transported to a nearby trauma center with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police also conducted checks on surrounding homes to ensure no one else was harmed. Fortunately, no officers sustained any injuries during the incident, according to authorities.
According to police, the dispute stemmed from tree debris in Montana's neighbor's yard. Local resident Cory David explained to CBS News Bay Area that the altercation began over a tree hanging into Montana's yard, with one party trimming it back.
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David described the situation as senseless, noting that the disagreement escalated when one individual resorted to violence.
Montana was an early member of Possessed, a pioneering death metal band that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1980s. Known for helping shape the
death metal genre
, Possessed gained recognition for their influential sound. Another guitarist from the band, Larry LaLonde, later joined the iconic rock band Primus.
Possessed's official Instagram page confirmed the tragic news of Brian Montana's death, sharing an early photo of the band with the caption: 'Rest in Peace Brian Montana.'
The official Possessed Instagram account shared a heartfelt tribute to Brian Montana, highlighting his kind nature. The post read: 'I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy. He was jovial and a gentleman. He was nothing like what I'm seeing written about him.
He was obviously going through some struggles, and I think this is the time to be respectful towards the Montana family and friends, as this is a tragic time for them. I know that I still feel this is a great loss, and I'm deeply saddened.'
The South San Francisco Police Department confirmed that the two officers who discharged their weapons during the incident have been placed on administrative leave, as per standard protocol.
An investigation into the events is currently underway. The department added that in the coming weeks, they plan to release further details, including audio and video recordings related to the incident.
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