Cinema Attacker 'Had Psychiatric Issues'

A man with a history of mental health issues has been shot dead by police after he doused a cinema with pepper spray.

The man, who was identified by police as Vincente David Montano, 29, was pronounced dead outside the cinema, which was showing Mad Max: Fury Road.

Police say he wielded an axe and a pellet gun during the incident in the suburb of Antioch in Tennessee.

Montano was also wearing a surgical mask and had canisters of chemical spray.

One man suffered minor injuries from the axe and two women were treated for exposure to pepper spray.

Nashville police said Montano also had a device in a backpack that was meant to look like a bomb.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said: "We have no motive," adding Montano had "significant psychiatric" issues and that police are examining his background.

Montano had been committed for mental health issues four times, Mr Aaron said, adding he was arrested for assault and resisting arrest in 2004 near Nashville.

He was reported as a missing person in Texas on Monday.

Mr Aaron said: "This individual has had significant psychiatric or psychological issues."

Police at the scene of an accident nearby quickly responded to reports of a gunman after some of those who were in the audience ran outside and alerted them, according to police.

South Precinct Officer Jonathan Frith was the first police officer to encounter Montano in the cinema.

Montano pointed his pellet gun at Officer Frith and pulled the trigger, causing Frith to fire one round from his rifle in self-defence, police said.

According to the police's version of events, the officer backed out of the cinema while keeping Montano contained inside.

SWAT officers arrived on the scene, and Montano began to use his pepper spray. He fired his pellet gun again and four SWAT team members fired back.

Montano then tried to flee out of the back of the cinema, axe in hand. As he moved towards five other officers they opened fire, killing Montano.

A backpack strapped to his chest was later detonated.

One man was cut in the shoulder in the incident, while his wife and daughter were treated after being affected by the pepper spray used by Montano.

It comes a month after a gunman killed two people at a theatre in Lafayette, Louisiana , before taking his own life.