Meredith Hunter | |
---|---|
Born | Meredith Curly Hunter Jr. October 24, 1951 |
Died | December 6, 1969 Altamont, California, U.S. | (aged 18)
Cause of death | Stabbing |
Resting place | Skyview Memorial Lawn, Vallejo, California |
Occupation | Student |
Meredith Curly Hunter Jr. (October 24, 1951 – December 6, 1969) was an American man who was killed at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by the Rolling Stones, Hunter approached the stage, and was driven off by members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club who were providing security and had agreed to prevent members of the audience from mounting the stage. He subsequently returned to the stage area, drew a revolver, and was stabbed and beaten to death by Hells Angels member Alan Passaro.
The incident was caught on camera and became a central scene in the Maysles Brothers documentary Gimme Shelter. Passaro was charged with murder and tried in 1971. Following 17 days of testimony, an eight-man, four-woman jury deliberated for 12 and a half hours before Passaro was acquitted on grounds of self-defense.