cannibal corpse
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Cannibal Corpse release statement on guitarist’s arrest, future plans

Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien has had a tumultuous past week. O’Brien was arrested Dec. 10 on charges of burglary and aggravated assault.

Several developments in the case have surfaced since then, but now the band is speaking out for the first time.

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Cannibal Corpse took to Facebook to release a statement, touching on O’Brien’s arrest and the band’s future plans.

“As a band and as individuals, we all want nothing but the best for our brother and partner, Pat. While we can offer no further information about the incident, we wanted everyone to know that Pat is getting the help he needs and appreciates the love and support from Cannibal Corpse fans around the world.

“Pat is currently with family and friends and looks forward to a healthy return at some point. For anyone wondering, all Cannibal Corpse touring will happen as planned and all shows will be played.”

Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien’s arrest

Crews responded to reports of a fire in the Northdale suburb of Tampa just after 7 p.m. EST on Monday, per channel WFTS 28 news, but firefighters had difficulty controlling the blaze bolstered by ammunition and “military-style flamethrowers” that were being stored inside the home. (“It was like the end of a fireworks display,” one neighbor tells WFLA 8. “That loud bang. It was crazy.”) And before it was clear that the house on fire belonged to O’Brien, he was invading a home at a separate residence was unfolding a short distance away.

O’Brien allegedly forced himself into a home just a half-mile from his own rental property, situated across a green at the Northdale Golf and Tennis Club golf course. Two people were reportedly inside the home, and one told the musician “to get out of the house immediately” before O’Brien pushed the other to the ground.

At one point, the death-metal guitarist hid inside a closet of the house, as noted by Blabbermouth.net. And he warned his victims of a “rapture,” according to the homeowner, who declined to speak on camera.

The owner of the home also suspects the musician might have been hallucinating; O’Brien reportedly mentioned that “someone was after him” during the home invasion on Northdale’s Windflower Circle. Watch that report directly below:

But when the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene, O’Brien, 53, was found hiding behind a fence in the home’s backyard. Reportedly, the Cannibal Corpse member did not obey the sheriff’s commands, and he ran toward one deputy with a knife in his hand.

Taken down with a taser, O’Brien was arrested. He’s charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, and burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault or battery.

O’Brien was released from jail Dec. 14. O’Brien posted bond of $50,000, per Theprp.com. He’s charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, which carried a $30,000 bond, and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, which added another $20,000 to the amount.

Yesterday, it was revealed O’Brien had an arsenal of weapons at the scene. According to a search warrant Tampa Bay Times obtained, after putting out the fire, marshals were able to find a stash of weapons that included almost 50 shotguns, with one of them having a barrel that was illegally sawed off, 10 semiautomatic rifles (including a few variants of AK-47s and two Uzi-style firearms,) two flamethrowers and 20 handguns.

Cannibal Corpse are hitting the road in February of next year. You can a list of dates below and pick up tickets here.

with Morbid Angel, Immolation, Necrot + Blood Incantation

02/17 – San Antonio, Texas @ Alamo Music Hall
02/19 – Tucson, Ariz. @ Club Xs
02/20 – San Diego, Calif. @ The Observatory
02/21 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Fonda Theater
02/22 – Santa Ana, Calif. @ The Observatory
02/23 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Regency Ballroom
02/25 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Ballroom
02/26 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox Market
03/01 – Denver, Colo. @ The Oriental Theater
03/02 – Kansas City, Mo. @ The Truman
03/03 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Skyway Theater
03/04 – Chicago, Ill. @ The Concord
03/07 – New York, N.Y. @ Playstation Theater
03/08 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ TLA*
03/09 – Worcester, Mass. @ Palladium*
03/10 – Baltimore, Md. @ Baltimore Soundstage*
03/11 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Lincoln Theater*
03/13 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Masquerade*
03/14 – Tampa, Fla. @ Orpheum*
* no Cannibal Corpse

with Slayer, Lamb of God and Amon Amarth

05/02 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Amphitheatre
05/03 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheatre,
05/05 – El Paso, Texas @ UTEP/Don Haskins Center
05/07 – Edinburg, Texas @ Bert Ogden Arena
05/08 – Dallas, Texas @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
05/10 – Tampa, Fla. @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
05/11 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre
05/13 – Huntington, W.V. @ Big Sandy Superstore Arena
05/14 – Columbia, Md. @ Merriweasther Post Pavilion
05/16 – Noblesville, Ind. @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
05/17 – Bonner Springs, Kansas @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
05/19 – Clarkston, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Center
05/20 – Youngstown, Ohio @ Covel Centre
05/22 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Centre
05/24 – Camden, N.J. @ BB&T Pavilion
05/25 – Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center

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