CLEARLAKE OAKS – A Clearlake Oaks man was arrested and charged with murder Saturday after allegedly shooting his brother in the chest. Alberto Alejandro Montes, 24, was taken into custody at an Elem Indian Colony residence without incident.
According to Lake County Sheriff Capt. James Bauman, when deputies arrived Montes exited the home with his hands in the air at which time he was detained.
Emergency response was dispatched for a report of a vegetation fire just prior to the shooting incident. Capt. Bauman said that about 30 minutes after fire personnel from Northshore Fire Protection District and CalFire, arrived on the scene of an approximate half-acre grass fire off of Pomo Drive, sheriff dispatch began receiving calls reporting a man had been shot by his brother during a fight about the fire.
According to Capt. Bauman, after detaining the suspect, deputies entered the home and found two women tending to Montes” brother, Rafael Montes, 26. The victim was down on the floor of the kitchen with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest, Capt. Bauman said.
“Deputies and fire personnel were already in the area battling the fire, attempted to treat Rafael Montes but he was pronounced dead at the scene,” Capt. Bauman said. “A .22 caliber rifle recovered from the home was believed to be the weapon used in the incident.”
Two sisters of the Montes brothers, Rebecca and Nora Montes; and their mother Brenda Geary, were all at the scene when deputies arrived, Capt. Bauman said.
According to witness statements, the two sisters, the mother and the victim had arrived at the suspect”s home on Pomo Drive about 20 minutes before a trash fire outside of the home had apparently gotten out of control. While the three women and Alberto Montes were trying to extinguish the fire, Alberto Montes allegedly went into the house and began arguing with Rafael Montes as he didn”t think Rafael Montes was offering any help. As the argument between the two brothers escalated, Alberto Montes allegedly retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from his room. Rafael Montes, who had reportedly been drinking, Capt. Bauman said, allegedly taunted Alberto Montes to use the weapon and Alberto Montes allegedly fire one shot, striking his brother in the chest.
Alberto Montes was arrested and booked into Lake County Jail on a charge for murder. He remains in custody with a $500,000 bail. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Rafael Montes, today at the Napa County Coroner”s Office.
