Ex-Tribal Leader’s Son Slain, Husband Wounded

A former tribal leader’s son and his father were shot in their home by a gunman who was wounded by sheriff’s deputies while attempting to flee, authorities said.

Joshua Andreas, 26, the son of former Morongo Band of Mission Indians tribal chairwoman Mary Ann Andreas, died at a Banning hospital shortly after the Monday morning shooting, Sgt. Shelley Kennedy-Smith of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.

His father, John Andreas, was in critical condition with gunshot wounds at another hospital, the sergeant said. The former chairwoman, who is in the process of divorcing John Andreas, wasn’t home when the shooting occurred.

Sheriff’s dispatchers received a 911 call from Joshua Andreas at the gated home at 2:54 a.m. During the call, the dispatcher heard arguing followed by gunshots.

Deputies arrived at the home minutes later and found the fatally wounded Joshua Andreas on the porch and his wounded father in a bathroom. A man with a handgun and shotgun was spotted leaving the house and there was a brief gun battle, the sergeant said.

The gunman was later identified as Sherman Brown, who was hospitalized with critical wounds. His relationship to the family and motive were not known, deputies said. No deputies were hurt.

“This is a tragic day, as one individual has lost his life and another is in critical condition. The tribe is presently awaiting the results of the sheriff’s investigation,” Morongo tribal chairman Maurice Lyons said in a statement.

John and Joshua Andreas are members of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs. John Andreas is a bird singer, one of only a few Indians able to perform traditional songs in the ancient Cahuilla language.

Mary Ann Andreas championed California Indian tribes’ sovereign rights during four terms as chairwoman that ended in June. She addressed the 2000 Democratic convention in Los Angeles.