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.
Related: Rodeo Legend, 69, Dies Unexpectedly in a Fire
“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.
