Former Turnstile guitarist charged with attempted murder for striking a bandmate’s father with his car

(SeaPRwire) –   A former guitarist of the Grammy-winning Baltimore hardcore group Turnstile faces attempted murder charges after officials allege he pursued and hit a former bandmate’s father with his vehicle, leaving the man severely injured.

Per charging documents, Montgomery County police officers who responded to a Sunday call about a pedestrian struck in Silver Spring—a Washington, D.C., suburb—discovered 79-year-old William Yates (father of lead vocalist Brendan Yates) injured in a front yard.

Police noted that Yates’ family identified Brady Ebert—a former bandmate who left Turnstile years ago and lives nearby—as the one who hit William Yates with a car. Erin Gerber, Yates’ daughter, told authorities that she and her husband were unloading their children from their car when Ebert pulled up, honking and shouting profanities before driving into her father.

Neighbor-provided video footage, as described in charging documents, shows Ebert driving a gold Buick LeSabre and swerving toward William Yates but missing him. Yates then threw a rock at Ebert’s car, and Gerber pulled her 3-year-old son onto the lawn to avoid being hit. Ebert then made a sharp turn into Yates’ driveway and struck him while he was trying to escape, investigators stated. Finally, Ebert drove across the lawn and fled the scene.

According to charging papers, Yates told a detective that while he lay injured on the ground, Ebert returned and shouted that he “had it coming” before driving away once more.

Yates explained that Ebert was once in a band with his son but had been creating issues for the family ever since he was dismissed. He added that Ebert had been taunting them for a long period, and his conduct had grown more intense over time.

Court records indicate that Ebert, 33, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

The Baltimore Banner reported that during a Thursday bond hearing where Ebert appeared via video, he referred to William Yates as a “maniac” who threw a rock at him and requested the judge to view the surveillance footage, claiming it would “contradict” the officials’ account of the incident.

However, prosecutor Dominic Plantamura stated that the footage reveals the incident was a “clearly targeted attack” and that Yates is fortunate he didn’t sustain even more severe injuries.

John Costello, Ebert’s attorney, admitted there was a strained history between Ebert and his former bandmate but said, “In this case, that does not justify additional detention.” Costello’s office refused to comment to The Associated Press.

The judge decided to hold Ebert without bail.

Plantamura noted that William Yates’ injuries were so severe that a bone protruded from one of his legs.

In a statement, Turnstile said it ended its relationship with Ebert in 2022 “in response to a consistent pattern of harmful behavior.” The band explained that a boundary had to be set after Ebert began making violent threats. While Ebert’s “unfounded rants” persisted publicly afterward, the band chose not to address them to safeguard his privacy. Threats intensified in recent months, culminating in this week’s physical assault on Brendan Yates’ father, the band stated.

“We are thankful that Mr. Yates survived, has undergone successful surgery, and we are hoping for the best possible recovery outcome,” the band said. “We have no words left for Brady.”

Turnstile was a staple in the underground music scene until their 2021 album “Glow On” propelled them into mainstream awareness. This year, they solidified their status by winning Grammys for Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance.