Latest news with #SouthSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment
San Francisco Chronicle
12-06-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Burglars hit home of Bay Area death metal guitarist days after fatal police shooting
Two men have been charged with breaking into death metal guitarist Brian Montana's home to steal his credit cards and car just days after he was shot and killed by police following a violent neighborhood standoff, authorities said. Richard Vaka, of Newark, and Norman Desumala, of Fremont, were arrested June 5 after a South San Francisco Police Department investigation tied them to a burglary on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive that occurred May 2 — four days after Montana's fatal confrontation with police. The break-in took place shortly after 6 a.m., while the residence was unoccupied, according to police. Montana's friend Rob Estrada noted on Facebook that the guitarist's family still lived in the home, though they had stayed elsewhere immediately following the shooting. 'The suspects forced entry into a home that had been temporarily vacated following a tragic neighborhood incident, before stealing personal property and a vehicle,' the department wrote in a Facebook post on June 9. Detectives identified the suspects through a witness description and evidence that one of the stolen credit cards had been used at a Bay Area casino later that day. Vaka and Desumala were later taken into custody during an unrelated police encounter in Fremont, officials said. Vaka faces charges of first-degree burglary, vehicle theft and grand theft. Desumala has been charged with theft and fraud-related offenses. Both men were booked into Alameda County Jail and remain in custody. Montana, 60, was killed April 28 during an extended exchange of gunfire with police that began after a dispute with a neighbor over fallen tree debris. According to authorities, he fired multiple weapons — including a handgun, shotgun and rifle — at officers and homes before he was fatally shot. An early member of Possessed, Montana played on the band's influential 1984 'Death Metal' demo, widely credited with coining the name of the genre. Though he left before the release of the debut album, 'Seven Churches,' his role in the band's formation helped define its aggressive sound. The band paid tribute to Montana in an Instagram post shortly after his death. 'Brian Montana was a very nice guy,' the caption read. 'He was jovial and a gentleman. He was into martial arts and he was an excellent guitar player. Brian was always cracking jokes and he was a good person. Although we weren't in touch often and more than a phone call here and there. The Brian I know is from when we were still just kids back in the beginning of Possessed. He was nothing like what I'm seeing being written about him. In fact, I think that's one of the reasons that led to him leaving Possessed. He just wasn't willing to be as dark as we wanted him to be at that time. We were going for that evil imagery, and Brian was just so lighthearted, even goofy in a good way.' The band went on to ask for the public to respect the privacy of his family and close friends as they continue to mourn his death. '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,' Possessed wrote. 'I'm sure there's a lot more to this story but that would be up to Brian's family to tell or not to tell. I know that I still feel this is a great loss and I'm deeply saddened.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
19-year-old driving Dodger Charger in ‘reckless manner' arrested after SSF hit-and-run: police
(KRON) — A 19-year-old man was arrested Sunday in connection to a hit-and-run over the weekend, the South San Francisco Police Department announced on Tuesday in a press release. The hit-and-run happened around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 on the 300 block of Forest View Drive. The 19-year-old, a South San Francisco resident, was driving a Dodge Charger when he hit a pedestrian in a 'reckless manner,' according to police. The pedestrian suffered a 'major injury' and was taken to the hospital. A police chase then ensued once the suspect drove off. San Bruno and Menlo Park police officers initiated two separate chases that led both law enforcement agencies on Highway 101 in an effort to catch the suspect. Police ended the chase in interested of public safety, authorities said. The suspect was arrested the following day on May 11 in South San Francisco, police said. Stephen Curry officially ruled out of must-win Game 5 in Minnesota The suspect was booked into county jail on a $50,000 bail, according to jail records. SSF police did not provide an update on the victim's condition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Heavy Metal Guitarist, 60, Dies During Police Shootout
Brian Montana, the former guitarist of heavy metal band Possessed, died on Monday, April 28, during a shootout with the police. Montana, who was 60 years old at the time of the incident, was shot and killed by law enforcement near his Arroyo Drive home in San Francisco, the South San Francisco Police Department said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. Officers responded to multiple 911 calls just before 6 p.m., reporting a man, now identified as Montana, wielding a weapon and arguing with a neighbor. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Montana had already fired his weapon into an occupied house. He was also barricading himself behind parked vehicles and landscaping.'The armed suspect repositioned into a neighboring driveway and fired multiple times at officers using a handgun, shotgun, and rifle,' the South San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. 'Officers used patrol cars as cover and returned fire. The suspect was struck and ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.' Despite life-saving efforts, Montana died on the scene. Additionally, an unidentified neighbor was grazed by a bullet and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Possessed acknowledged Montana's death. 'Rest In Peace Brian,' the post read, along with several photos of the band and a screengrab of the New York Post article reporting his passing. 'Still can't believe it … rest well,' one user responded. 'Sorry for your loss, may he rest in peace,' added another. Possessed was formed in 1983 and is often regarded as one of the earliest death metal bands. Their original lineup was Jeff Becerra on vocals and bass, Mike Torrao and Brian Montana on guitars, and Mike Sus on drums. Their current lineup, as of their 2019 album Revelations of Oblivion, includes Jeff Becerra on vocals, Daniel Gonzalez and Claudeous Creamer on guitars, Robert Cardenas on bass, and Emilio Marquez on drums.
International Business Times
02-05-2025
- International Business Times
Brian Montana: Guitarist of Death Metal Band Possessed Shot Dead During Standoff with Police in San Francisco
A Bay Area-based death metal legend was shot dead by cops in San Francisco this week after a dispute with a neighbor over tree clippings that escalated into violence. Possessed guitarist, Brian Montana, 60, was shot dead by cops after pointing a weapon at his neighbor, according to the South San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. On Wednesday, his band paid tribute to Montana through its Instagram Stories, posting a photo of him with the message, "Rest In Peace Brian Montana." The music outlet Consequence identified Montana as the person on the left in the tribute image. Montana's death is being mourned by thousands of his fans. Killed after Turning Violent One neighbor sustained non-life-threatening injury during the shootout, in which Montana hid behind parked vehicles and landscaping while firing at police for nearly 30 minutes using three different firearms, according to CBS Bay Area. Police said that Montana "fired multiple times at officers with a handgun, shotgun, and rifle." Officers took cover behind their patrol cars and returned fire. Montana was hit during the exchange and was later pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities responded to a call around 6 p.m. local time on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive after receiving reports of an armed man threatening a neighbor. Montana, an early member of the band, was reportedly "enraged" over debris from a nearby tree, which police said sparked the deadly confrontation, according to the newspaper. Officers told the station that they saw a man—later confirmed to be Montana—firing a gun at someone inside a house. Police said Montana was then seen moving toward a driveway, where he took cover behind a parked car and some landscaping. From there, he began shooting at officers using three different weapons. Montana was given first aid but was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Cursed Band Possessed, a prominent name in the death metal circle with over 195,000 followers on Instagram, is currently on tour promoting their album Revelations of Oblivion, according to their social media. Authorities said that the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, following standard procedures. Authorities also said that more details — including video and audio recordings from the deadly encounter — will be made available to the public later. The incident is currently being investigated by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, police told the newspaper. Montana is the second member of Possessed to be involved in a shooting. In 1989, the band's lead singer, Jeff Becerra, was shot twice during a robbery, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, according to Livewire.
