The Tennessee movie theater assailant had been identified as Vincente David Montano, 29, who allegedly went after moviegoers at the Carmike Hickory 8 movie Theater Complex in the Nashville suburb of Antioch. Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters that Montano was the only fatality and others he attacked at the theater sustained minor injuries, according to CNN.
Aaron said police had not established a motive. However, he cited a report from Rutherford County that disclosed that the assailant had been incarcerated twice: in 2004 and 2007 and was also committed to a mental institution four times.
Two days prior the incident, Montano's mother, Denise Pruitt, filed a missing person report with Texas Rangers and Tennessee authorities were also notified.
Pruitt said her son had been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia in 2006 and had other health concerns and had difficulty caring for himself, she told police, NBC News reported. She listed his address as "homeless."
She said that she last saw her son March 2013 in Illinois.
Headlines and Global News had earlier reported that Montano had a hatchet, an airsoft pistol with plastic or BB pellets and pepper spray, which he used on seven moviegoers who were about there for the screening of "Mad Max: Fury Road."
Police were able to respond in the movie cinema immediately as they were in the vicinity attending to another case.
Police Chief Steve Anderson said they were able to dispose of a hoax explosive that was carried by the suspect.
Fire department spokesman Brian Haas said that not one of the victims was brought to the hospital. Three of the seven people attacked had to contend with irritation caused by the pepper spray and one had a superficial ax wound on the shoulder.
