Alan Passaro
Encyclopedia
Alan David Passaro was a Hells Angels
member known for the December 6, 1969, stabbing of Meredith Hunter
to death at the Altamont Free Concert during The Rolling Stones
' set, as seen in the 1970 documentary film Gimme Shelter. Charged with murder, Passaro was tried in a court of law in January 1971. Claiming self-defense, he was acquitted
of the charge after the jury were shown film footage of Hunter drawing a revolver.
In 1980, he was given a two year prison sentence on an unrelated weapons charge and federal racketeering
charges, in relation to his activities with the Hells Angels. He was released from prison in 1984, and the following year Passaro was discovered to have drowned
in the Anderson Reservoir
; police said "the death is kind of suspicious", though foul play
was never confirmed.
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
member known for the December 6, 1969, stabbing of Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter
Meredith Curly Hunter was a male spectator at the Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by The Rolling Stones, Hunter pulled out a gun after being punched by a Hells Angel and was then stabbed to death by a Hells Angel serving as a security guard...
to death at the Altamont Free Concert during The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' set, as seen in the 1970 documentary film Gimme Shelter. Charged with murder, Passaro was tried in a court of law in January 1971. Claiming self-defense, he was acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
of the charge after the jury were shown film footage of Hunter drawing a revolver.
In 1980, he was given a two year prison sentence on an unrelated weapons charge and federal racketeering
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
charges, in relation to his activities with the Hells Angels. He was released from prison in 1984, and the following year Passaro was discovered to have drowned
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
in the Anderson Reservoir
Anderson Reservoir
Anderson Reservoir is a man-made lake along Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County, California, near Morgan Hill. Anderson Dam was built in 1950 to provide drinking water for Santa Clara county; the lake has also become a source of recreation to nearby residents. Anderson Reservoir is the largest...
; police said "the death is kind of suspicious", though foul play
Foul play
Foul play may refer to:*Foul play, a synonym for crime*Foul Play, an American film*Foul Play , a silent British film directed by Edwin J. Collins*Foul , an unfair or illegal sports act...
was never confirmed.