Member of Sacramento’s Deftones narrowly avoids tragedy in Paris terror attack

Members of Sacramento’s Deftones and the band’s road crew are all safe following Friday’s terror attacks in Paris.

The Grammy-winning rock band was booked for a series of sold-out shows running Saturday through Monday at Le Bataclan, the Paris theater that was the site of one of Friday’s attacks. Early reports said that about 100 hostages were killed inside the theater. The American rock band Eagles of Death Metal were performing at the venue as a mass shooting unfolded.

Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter and Juan Gonzalez, a member of the band’s road crew, had attended the Eagles of Death Metal concert. Gonzalez said in a text message to The Sacramento Bee that the two left the show after three songs and avoided the tragedy. Other reports have stated that the two left the venue 15 minutes before the attack started.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency following a series of attacks Friday, which included a bomb blast near a stadium where a soccer game was being played between France and Germany and a shooting at a Cambodian restaurant. This is the second suspected terrorist assault on Paris this year; the first was the January attack led by Paris-born terrorists that left 12 dead at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

In a text message to The Bee, Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham said the band’s hotel was near the site of some of Friday’s attacks. The band posted Friday afternoon on itsFacebook page that nobody from the group or crew was injured:

“Thank for all your inquiries on our well being. Band/Crew all safe and accounted for at this time. Prayers for those affected in these tragic events.”