In the quiet farming community of Newton, Kansas, the winter chill of late February 2017 was pierced by a shocking act of violence that claimed the life of Nelton Dean Lemons. A 36-year-old Caucasian male, Lemons was one of three victims in a brutal triple homicide that unfolded on February 23rd. The tranquility of the rural setting was shattered when law enforcement responded to a distress call in the early morning hours, discovering a grim scene.
Inside the residence, officers found
Nelton Dean Lemons, his brother Michael John Lemons, and another man, Jason Stubby, all deceased from single gunshot wounds. The investigation quickly pointed to one individual, David Montano, as the sole suspect in the slayings. Witnesses reported that Montano had arrived at the house with the specific intention of committing murder. In a chilling statement to an individual he forced to accompany him, Montano reportedly said, "Mother Earth is thirsty, she needs blood." The motive for this horrific act was described by the county attorney as stemming from a "domestic-type situation," rather than being directly related to drugs, although Montano had previous involvement in drug distribution.
The events took another dramatic turn when law enforcement located Montano near the scene. As officers confronted him, Montano, armed with a sawed-off shotgun and a large knife, refused to comply with commands to drop his weapon. Instead, he swung the shotgun in the direction of the officers. In the tense standoff, a Newton police corporal, perceiving an imminent threat to himself and his fellow officers, fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Montano.
Following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Harvey County Attorney concluded that the officer's use of lethal force against David Montano was justified to prevent further loss of life. Consequently, no charges were filed against the officer. With the death of the only suspect, there were no arrests to be made in the murders of Nelton Dean Lemons, his brother, and their friend, leaving a community to grapple with the senseless violence that had so suddenly erupted in their midst.
