Antonio Zamora, a 29-year-old local rapper known by his stage name "Montana Bih," was tragically killed in a shooting outside the Good Vibes Only (GVO) nightclub in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 7, 2022. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot between the nightclub and a nearby restaurant. Witnesses reported that a fight broke out between Zamora and another man, which escalated into a hail of gunfire.
Over 40 evidence markers were placed at the scene, indicating the severity of the shooting. Zamora was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other individuals were seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) launched an investigation into the shooting, initially withholding the identities of the victims under Marsy's Law, which grants privacy rights to crime victims. However, friends and family identified Zamora as the deceased. The investigation revealed that the altercation began as a verbal dispute that turned physical, ultimately leading to the fatal shooting. Despite the heavy police presence and ongoing investigation, no immediate arrests were made following the incident.
In the days following the shooting, TPD arrested Dequan Blount, a 25-year-old Tallahassee resident, and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with Zamora's death. Blount reportedly sustained an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound during the altercation and flagged down officers for medical assistance. He was subsequently linked to the shooting and taken into custody. Another individual, Jordan Brown, was also implicated in the incident. Both Blount and Brown claimed self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, which allows individuals to use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.
In November 2024, a Tallahassee circuit judge dismissed the murder charges against Blount and Brown, agreeing with their Stand Your Ground defense. The judge found that both defendants had a reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent harm. The court's decision was based on evidence, including surveillance footage and witness testimonies, which showed that Zamora had physically attacked Blount before the shooting occurred. The dismissal of the charges brought an end to the legal proceedings related to Zamora's death, leaving his family and friends to grapple with the loss and the complexities of the case.
