Wednesday afternoon, 29-year-old Vincente David Montano, entered a movie theater with an ax, pepper spray and an Airsoft gun, which looked like a real handgun. He attacked theater patrons and fired his gun at police.
Metro Police and SWAT quickly contained the situation and ultimately killed the suspect, before anyone was badly hurt. Only three individuals were injured and all injuries were minor.
During the attack, witnesses at the theater ran to nearby police officers who were working a crash on Bell Road. Those officers immediately headed to the theater as they radioed the information to dispatch.
South Precinct Officer Jonathan Frith, a six-year veteran, was the first officer to encounter Montano as he entered the auditorium showing ‘Mad Max’. Montano pointed his pistol at Frith and pulled the trigger, prompting Frith to fire one round from his patrol rifle in defense of himself. Frith then backed out of the theater and worked to keep Montano contained inside as SWAT officers responded. It was during this time that Montano is suspected of filling the theater with chemical spray. Officers reported encountering a cloud as they entered in an effort to bring Montano into custody. Montano engaged SWAT officers inside the theater for several minutes, pulling the trigger of what turned out to be an airsoft pistol that closely resembled a semi-automatic pistol. As Montano’s gun popped, sounding like a small caliber pistol, four SWAT members fired. Montano, wearing a surgical mask, ultimately attempted to flee out the rear door of the theater. As he emerged with ax in hand and started toward officers, five opened fire. Montano was hit and died at the scene, 41 minutes after officers were first made aware of the attack on theater goers.
The other SWAT officers who engaged Montano in the theater are:
• Special Response Team/SWAT Sgt. Jason Duncan, an 18-year police department veteran;
• East Precinct/SWAT Lt. Jeff Sanders, a 20-year police department veteran;
• Special Response Team/SWAT Officer Jonathan Frost, a 9-year police department veteran;
• SWAT Officer Brian Gregory, a 13-year police department veteran.
Officers who had taken up position at the rear of the theater and fired on Montano as he emerged with ax in hand are identified as:
• South Precinct Officer Steven Carrick, a 2-year police department veteran;
• North Precinct Officer Justin Fox, a 16-year police department veteran;
• South Precinct undercover detective Lee Davis, a 4-year police department veteran;
• South Precinct undercover detective Kevin Choklad, a 3-year police department veteran;
• North Precinct Officer Michael Parman, an 8-year police department veteran.
The officers who fired their weapons are on routine administrative assignment pending
completion of the preliminary investigation.
As of Thursday morning, police officers are still on the scene. Read Also: Victim from Nashville Movie Theater Attack Speaks Out
