Tragedy struck a South San Francisco widow when burglars targeted her home and made off with $15,000 worth of property shortly after her late husband, Brian Montana, engaged in a fatal shootout with local police. Montana, known for his early influence in the death metal scene as a guitarist, was killed by officers on April 28, an event that sent shockwaves through the community and led his family to temporarily vacate their home, as detailed by the SF Chronicle. The suspects behind the burglary, Richard Vaka and Norman DeOcampo Desumala, were apprehended last Thursday, with Vaka now facing charges including first-degree burglary and Desumala wanted on a $75,000 arrest warrant.
In the wake of the burglary, local authorities pieced together the events through neighborhood surveillance and witness testimonies. Neighbors, mistaking one of the suspects for a family friend due to his casual demeanor, did not alert the police about the suspicious activities around Montana's home. The alleged point of entry, as stated by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, was reported by KRON4. Evidence, including the use of one of the stolen credit cards at a local casino, allowed police to track down the suspects who still possessed some of Montana's belongings when officers located the stolen vehicle.
The late Brian Montana, a pivotal figure in shaping the 'death metal' genre and a former member of the influential band Possessed, was remembered by friends and the band for his lighter side in contrast to the dark persona often associated with the genre.
