Police Officers Describe Details Confronting Gunman
Police on Thursday said the suspect who attacked a family at a theater in Antioch was carrying elements of what could have been an explosive device.
In new information released Thursday, police spokesman Don Aaron said Vincente Montano had a lighter, lighter fluid and a canister of propane with him in the theater at the time.
Police said arrived 20 to 25 minutes before the start of "Mad Max: Fury Road" and blocked one exit from the theater.
At the blocked exit is where the first responding officer, Metro Police Officer Jonathan Frith encountered the Montano.
Frith said during a press conference that he and three other officers responded to the theater. He said he noticed two civilians were wounded and called for an ambulance. He said officers were directed to theater 4, where "Mad Max" was showing.
Frith said he and other officers went into a projection room and then went down into the theater.
"Just by pure chance I went to the left and immediately upon entering the theater I was engaged by, with what I perceived to be small arms fire from small caliber handgun," Firth said.
He said he heard three small pops and felt "pressure on the right side of his face." He said he fired a shot from his rifle toward the suspect.
Frith said at that time, the "movie was still paying and all I could see was a silhouette."
SWAT and other officers responded. Montano had moved to a position of cover and was refusing commands, police spokesman Don Aaron said. They also reported that Montano was hurling things at them.
Among the items that Montano had with him was a propane canister that Aaron said may have been gouged open by the suspect with the hatchet.
Police on Thursday released more information about Montano's whereabouts before he showed up at the theater.
Aaron said he was in the area on foot before he went to the movie theater. He bought a movie ticket, asked for a cup of water and then went into the auditorium. He sat in the front left corner of the theater. Police said two women in the theater said Montano "staring them down" for several minutes before standing up, putting on a backpack and slinging a duffle bag over his shoulder.
Police said he put the bags down and sat back down. More people entered the auditorium, and then police said Montano suddenly doused the two women with pepper spray. Police said Steven, a moviegoer who was with the women, stood up to intervene. That's when he was wounded by the hatchet, police said.
"His motive for all this is yet to be determined, though we know, and you all know, he has mental issues," Aaron said.
Police said Montano was checked into the Nashville Rescue Mission three dates earlier this year, but may not have spent the night. On Monday, the same day a missing persons report about Montano was filed in Murfreesboro, a Metro police officer went to the mission to check on Montano's welfare. Aaron said the officer was told Montano was not there.
The Wednesday incident was reported at 1:13 p.m. Police shot and killed the suspect outside the theater after Montano left the theater with one hand hidden by his backpack and the hatchet in the other hand.
Tennessee Authorities Provide Update on Theater Shooting
Officers in Anitoch theater attack share details
South Precinct Officer Jonathan Frith speaks at the news conference. Frith was the first officer to encounter suspect Vincente Montano in the auditorium showing the movie.
Police discuss the latest in the investigation into Wednesday's shooting incident at the Carmike Hickory 8 Cinemas in Antioch, Tennessee.
Police on Thursday said the suspect who attacked a family at a theater in Antioch was carrying elements of what could have been an explosive device.
In new information released Thursday, police spokesman Don Aaron said Vincente Montano had a lighter, lighter fluid and a canister of propane with him in the theater at the time.
Police said arrived 20 to 25 minutes before the start of "Mad Max: Fury Road" and blocked one exit from the theater.
At the blocked exit is where the first responding officer, Metro Police Officer Jonathan Frith encountered the Montano.
Frith said during a press conference that he and three other officers responded to the theater. He said he noticed two civilians were wounded and called for an ambulance. He said officers were directed to theater 4, where "Mad Max" was showing.
Frith said he and other officers went into a projection room and then went down into the theater.
"Just by pure chance I went to the left and immediately upon entering the theater I was engaged by, with what I perceived to be small arms fire from small caliber handgun," Firth said.
He said he heard three small pops and felt "pressure on the right side of his face." He said he fired a shot from his rifle toward the suspect.
Frith said at that time, the "movie was still paying and all I could see was a silhouette."
SWAT and other officers responded. Montano had moved to a position of cover and was refusing commands, police spokesman Don Aaron said. They also reported that Montano was hurling things at them.
Among the items that Montano had with him was a propane canister that Aaron said may have been gouged open by the suspect with the hatchet.
Police on Thursday released more information about Montano's whereabouts before he showed up at the theater.
Aaron said he was in the area on foot before he went to the movie theater. He bought a movie ticket, asked for a cup of water and then went into the auditorium. He sat in the front left corner of the theater. Police said two women in the theater said Montano "staring them down" for several minutes before standing up, putting on a backpack and slinging a duffle bag over his shoulder.
Police said he put the bags down and sat back down. More people entered the auditorium, and then police said Montano suddenly doused the two women with pepper spray. Police said Steven, a moviegoer who was with the women, stood up to intervene. That's when he was wounded by the hatchet, police said.
"His motive for all this is yet to be determined, though we know, and you all know, he has mental issues," Aaron said.
Police said Montano was checked into the Nashville Rescue Mission three dates earlier this year, but may not have spent the night. On Monday, the same day a missing persons report about Montano was filed in Murfreesboro, a Metro police officer went to the mission to check on Montano's welfare. Aaron said the officer was told Montano was not there.
The Wednesday incident was reported at 1:13 p.m. Police shot and killed the suspect outside the theater after Montano left the theater with one hand hidden by his backpack and the hatchet in the other hand.
Tennessee Authorities Provide Update on Theater Shooting
Officers in Anitoch theater attack share details
South Precinct Officer Jonathan Frith speaks at the news conference. Frith was the first officer to encounter suspect Vincente Montano in the auditorium showing the movie.
Police discuss the latest in the investigation into Wednesday's shooting incident at the Carmike Hickory 8 Cinemas in Antioch, Tennessee.
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