Brady Ebert, the former guitarist of the Grammy-winning band Turnstile, is facing a potential life sentence in prison after being accused of hitting his bandmate’s father, William Yates, with his car. Ebert, 33, had initially been charged with attempted second-degree murder, but the charges were upgraded to attempted first-degree murder on April 30. If convicted, he could face a life sentence behind bars.
The Incident and Charges
According to reports from KTLA, the incident took place on March 29 in Montgomery County. Authorities responded to a hit-and-run report at the home of William Yates, who is the 79-year-old father of Turnstile’s lead vocalist Brendan Yates.
Ebert allegedly had an argument with a neighbor before driving his 2001 Buick onto Yates’ property, shouting obscenities. After an altercation, Yates reportedly threw a rock at Ebert’s car, leading Ebert to hit Yates with his vehicle. Yates was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Ebert was arrested on March 31. At his indictment on April 30, he claimed that he acted in self-defense and that video surveillance footage would prove his version of the events.
Turnstile’s Response to the Incident
Following the incident, Turnstile released a statement via Rolling Stone, clarifying that Ebert had been removed from the band in 2022. The band mentioned that his harmful behavior, including threats of violence, had escalated over time, making it impossible to continue their relationship.
The band expressed that they had tried to support Ebert’s recovery efforts but had to set a boundary when communication became unhealthy.
Turnstile emphasized that they had kept the details of Ebert’s departure private, despite his public outbursts. The statement ended with the band saying, “We have no language left for Brady.”
Ebert’s Legal Situation
In addition to the attempted first-degree murder charge, Ebert has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree assault. Louder Sound reports that Ebert is currently being held without bond and has his next court appearance scheduled for May 8, 2026.
Potential Consequences of Conviction
If convicted on the charges, Ebert faces the possibility of life imprisonment. His legal team has not commented on the case beyond his self-defense claim. Ebert’s arrest has shocked fans, as he co-founded Turnstile with Brendan Yates and other members in 2010, but was kicked out of the band in 2022.
