Jewish Montana Man Shoots Neighbor And Dog Over Serving Non-Kosher Drink

Monte Leon Hanson, 59, has a curious concept of a pious life. Hanson ordered a “red beer” (a mixture of beer and tomato juice) from his neighbor, Joe Lewis, who works as a bartender at the Rainbow bar in Hamilton, Montana. After drinking the red beer, Hanson learned that Lewis used Clamato tomato juice made from clam broth. He became irate that he did not use straight tomato juice because the Clamato juice was not kosher for his Jewish faith.

Hanson reported had an altercation with Lewis at the bar and went home inebriated. When Lewis returned home, he took his dog out for a walk. Police say that Hanson was laying in wait and shot him and his dog. The dog was killed after being shot in the head. What saved Lewis that that he was carrying the dog, which had a broken leg in a cast. If he had not been taking care of the dog named Jackson, the bullet would have hit him in the head. The second shot hit Lewis in the ribs and went out his back. It missed any major organs.

It appears that while Clamato juice is not kosher, it appears attempted murder and animal cruelty is, in Hanson’s mind.

Hanson’s bail was set at $250,000.