Military-Grade Flamethrowers Found Inside Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Pat O’Brien’s Home
Additional details have emerged surrounding yesterday’s shocking news that Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien has been arrested on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Authorities were reportedly called to O’Brien’s home in Northdale, FL when it “caught fire with exploding ammunition inside.” While firefighters struggled to put out the fire despite the exploding ammunition, O’Brien had allegedly entered another person’s home nearby where he reportedly pushed a woman down and then hid in the backyard. Authorities were eventually able to subdue O’Brien with a taser after he came at them with a knife.
The initial reports that came out yesterday indicated there was ammunition inside O’Brien’s home, which made the fire especially difficult to battle. After entering the building, firefighters had to retreat when they released the situation was unsafe. A new report from ABC Action News indicates that two “military-style flamethrowers” were among the types of ammunition inside the home. Flamethrowers are legal in all U.S. states but carry restrictions in California and Maryland, although it’s unclear what business O’Brien (or someone else living in the home) would have with one. It is worth noting that deputies have not charged O’Brien in the house fire at this time.
More details regarding the burglary have surfaced as well. ABC Action News reports that 16311 Norwood Dr., the home where O’Brien was living, is less than half a mile away by car from the home at 4372 Windflower Circle which he’d burglarized and at which he was subsequently arrested. By crossing The Northdale Golf & Tennis Club on foot (which seems to be what O’Brien did), the distance is much shorter. Here is a Google Maps rendering of the two locations:
The owner of the home that O’Brien broke into told Action News that O’Brien spoke to him about “the rapture” and claimed “someone was after him.” He added that he thought O’Brien was hallucinating and at one point hid in a closet.
The Tampa Bay Times reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has also opened an investigation in addition to local law enforcement. The Times also reports that firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls from neighbors after the fire broke out following an “apparent domestic dispute.”
In the state of Florida, both of the crimes O’Brien is accused of committing are considered first degree felonies. In the case of the aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer charge, the penalty could be a prison term up to thirty years; the charge of burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault is even more serious, as it carries a penalty of a fine up to $10,000 and a potential lifetime prison sentence.
O’Brien appeared before a Hillsborough County judge Tuesday morning wearing an anti-suicide vest and with his ankles and wrists shackled together. The judge set O’Brien’s bail at $50,000, conditional upon his passing a drug a test.
Cannibal Corpse have not issued a statement at this time. On Monday, the band was announced as one of the support acts for the next North American leg of Slayer’s farewell tour.
