PALM SPRINGS: Many questions remain after 19-year-old fatally shoots his mother
PALM SPRINGS — A 19-year-old Palm Springs resident has been arrested, accused in the shooting death of his own mother. The fatal, early morning shooting happened Monday, Nov. 20, at a home on the 4100 block of Calle San Antonio, between Calle Santa Cruz and El Placer Road, in Palm Springs.
Palm Springs police officers arrested Brian Conroy after he allegedly shot and killed his mother, identified as Amber Lane. Conroy DMV photo
The victim, later identified by police and coroner’s officials as 36-year-old, Amber Lane, died after being transported to an area hospital.
After an investigation, officers arrested the victim’s biological son, identified as Brian Patrick Conroy. Officers later booked Conroy into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, on suspicion of murder with malice.
Those who knew Lane, Conroy and the family expressed grief, shock and disbelief upon hearing of Conroy’s alleged actions and Lane’s tragic death.
By all appearances and accounts by family members, friends and others who knew the family said the two shared a loving relationship and Lane appeared to be a loving and devoted mother, who doted on her son.
Just six days before her death at Conroy’s hands, Lane celebrated her son’s 19th birthday with him and others at an LA area Benihana’s restaurant and she later posted photographs of the celebration on her Faceboook page.
Friends and family have said other than some past “behavioral issues,” they did not see any warning signs or indications of trouble brewing at the family’s Palm Springs home; however, some later admitted they were aware that Lane was battling cancer.
The last time Lane’s friend’s and others heard from her was at 2:23 a.m., early Monday morning, about two hours before she was fatally shot. In an early morning Facebook post Lane wrote, “I’m tired has more meanings than I can possibly explain.”
Lane, who worked as a Director of Marketing and PR at Wangs in the Desert, died about four hours later and never had a chance to explain or expand on her cryptic message.
Lane’s last post to Facebook has received countless comments in the day following her shooting death at the hands of her son.
The murder investigation began about 4:25 a.m., when Palm Springs police officers responded to the residence after Lane’s husband called 911 and reported to City of Palm Springs emergency dispatchers that his wife had been shot inside the residence.
Officers converged on the home, arriving on scene within minutes of the 911 call, and found an adult female inside the home who had been shot. While officers detained three men at the residence, the shooting victim was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs in critical condition.
The three men at the residence were believed to be Lane’s husband and two sons.
Despite life-saving measures, Lane succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 6:46 a.m., just over two hours after the shooting was reported.
Based on the circumstances, Palms Springs Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Investigation Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
Amber Lane and Brian Conroy, (pictured in center) seen celebrating Conroy’s 19th birthday at an LA area Benihana’s restaurant just days before the 19-year-old shot and killed his mother. Lane Facebook post
During their investigation, detectives determined Conroy “intentionally shot his mother inside the home,” a Palm Springs PD social media press release explained.
Officials have not specified if there is a known motive for the murder or if an altercation preceded the deadly shooting.
Conroy, who attended Palm Springs High School and played trumpet and bass guitar for his school’s jazz ensemble and marching band and also played in a jazz band called “The Suits,” was arrested at the Palm Springs Police Department several hours after his mother’s death.
Detectives are continuing their investigation, which is active and ongoing.
An online jail records search revealed Conroy remains in custody, and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Nov. 22.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Palm Springs Police at (760) 327-1441. Callers can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.