Former Turnstile Guitarist Charged With Attempted Murder in Alleged Car Attack
A former guitarist for the Grammy-winning Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile has been charged with attempted murder after authorities allege he deliberately chased down and struck his ex-bandmate's father with a car, causing severe injuries. The incident occurred in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, and has sent shockwaves through the music community.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Montgomery County police officers responded to a report on Sunday about a pedestrian being struck. They found William Yates, the 79-year-old father of Turnstile lead singer Brendan Yates, injured in a front yard. According to charging documents, Yates' family identified the assailant as guitarist Brady Ebert, a neighbor who had parted ways with the band several years earlier.
Yates' daughter, Erin Gerber, told authorities that she and her husband were unloading their children from a car when Ebert drove up, honking and yelling obscenities. She stated that Ebert then drove into her father. Video footage from a neighbor showed Ebert driving a gold Buick LeSabre and swerving toward William Yates, but missing him initially.
In response, Yates threw a rock at Ebert's vehicle, and Gerber dragged her 3-year-old son onto the lawn to avoid being hit. Investigators wrote that Ebert then turned sharply into Yates' driveway and struck him as he attempted to run away. Ebert allegedly drove across the lawn before fleeing the scene.
Escalating Tensions and Legal Proceedings
Yates told detectives that while he was injured on the ground, Ebert returned and yelled that he "deserved it" before driving off again. Yates explained that Ebert, who used to be in a band with his son, had been causing problems for his family since being kicked out, with taunting behavior that had escalated over time.
Ebert, 33, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault. During a bond hearing on Thursday, which he attended via video, Ebert called William Yates a "maniac" who threw a rock at him. He asked the judge to review surveillance footage, claiming it would "contradict" the authorities' narrative, as reported by The Baltimore Banner.
However, prosecutor Dominic Plantamura argued that the footage shows a "clearly targeted attack" and that Yates is fortunate not to have been more seriously injured. Plantamura noted that Yates was hurt so badly that a bone protruded from one of his legs.
Ebert's lawyer, John Costello, acknowledged the contentious history between Ebert and his former bandmate but contended that it did not warrant extra detention. Costello's office declined to comment further to The Associated Press. The judge ordered Ebert held without bond.
Band's Response and Background
In a statement, Turnstile revealed that they cut ties with Ebert in 2022 due to a "consistent pattern of harmful behavior." The band explained that a boundary had to be set after he began threatening violence. While Ebert's "baseless tirades" continued publicly, the band chose not to address them to protect his privacy. They noted that threats escalated in recent months, culminating in the physical attack on Brendan Yates' father this week.
"We are grateful that Mr. Yates survived, has successfully undergone surgery, and we're hoping for the best possible outcome in his recovery," the band said. "We have no language left for Brady."
Turnstile, once underground stalwarts, gained mainstream recognition with their 2021 album "Glow On." They solidified their status this year by winning Grammys for Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance, making this incident a stark contrast to their recent successes.
