In a saga that sounds as if it could be a twisted rock ballad, former POSSESSED guitarist Brian Montana met a tragic end this past spring in a shootout with police, leading to a complex mix of legal, personal, and musical narratives. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office announced on August 14 that the shooting was a case of “legally justifiable self-defense and defense of others.” This conclusion closes a chapter on a bewildering and tragic event that began over the mundane matter of tree clippings.
On April 28, 2025, an argument between Montana and his neighbor escalated beyond anyone’s imagination. What started as a dispute over landscaping turned deadly when Montana, reportedly armed with multiple weapons, opened fire on police officers. Officer Jeffrey Lee, responding to the chaos, returned fire, resulting in Montana’s death. The ruling by District Attorney Steven M. Wagstaffe’s office emphasized the absence of a legal basis to charge Officer Lee, underscoring the chaotic and dangerous situation faced by officers.
Brian Montana, once a cornerstone in the early days of death metal, was a figure known for his lighthearted demeanor, as recalled by POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra. Montana joined the band after responding to a newspaper ad and contributed to their formative 1984 demo, “Death Metal,” before departing due to creative differences. Despite leaving, his influence remained etched in the annals of metal history.
POSSESSED, a band that carved a niche in the heavy metal world with their 1985 debut “Seven Churches,” mourned Montana’s death. Their social media tributes reflected both the sadness of losing a former bandmate and the complexity of Montana’s life, which Becerra poignantly touched upon. Montana, described as jovial and a gentleman, was remembered for his martial arts skills and guitar prowess, a stark contrast to the violent end he met.
The music world was left to reconcile the duality of Montana’s image: a musician who contributed to the birth of death metal and a man whose life ended in a police shootout. This incident, a grim intersection of rock history and modern-day tragedy, serves as a reminder of the unpredictable paths life can take, even for those who once stood at the forefront of a musical revolution.
