The Survivor

Former Pantera guitarist among 4 killed at club

Police officer shoots suspected gunman to death

Thursday, December 9, 2004 Posted: 5:43 PM EST (2243 GMT)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- A 25-year-old man stormed the stage at a heavy-metal rock concert Wednesday night, shooting and killing Pantera founder and Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and three others before a police officer shot and killed him, Columbus police said.

On Thursday, police identified the suspect as Nathan Gale of nearby Marysville. A spokesman said police had no information about a motive or possible link to the band.

"Right now we don't see any connection at all, but that could change," Columbus police Sgt. Brent Mull said. "Unless he left a note or there's something else, we may never know the motive."

At least two people also were wounded in the attack, which occurred shortly after Damageplan began its performance at the Alrosa Villa nightclub on Columbus' north side.

James Niggemeyer of the Columbus police was nearby and responded to a call about the shooting. He slipped in a back door, and someone directed him to the stage, Mull said.

"We got the call about 10:18, and by 10:20 he was in there," Mull said, adding that "it was probably less than a minute before he engaged" the suspect, who was holding a hostage.

"The officer was able to strategically gun this guy down before he was able to kill his hostage," Mull said. "It appeared he was about to kill his hostage before this officer put an end to it."

Mull said the hostage was unharmed and that Niggemeyer's action saved lives.

"The officer ran in without any backup ... obviously put himself at risk," he said. "The community has a real hero here."

Abbott, 38, and his brother, Vinnie Paul Abbott, 40, formed Damageplan after the breakup of Pantera -- a group they formed in the 1980s. Their father is Jerry Abbott, a country and western songwriter and producer. (Dimebag profile)

Pantera's third release, "Far Beyond Driven," debuted at No. 1 in 1994. The band was nominated for Grammys in 1995 and 2001.

The band dissolved at the end of a tour last year -- amid much speculation on fan Web sites that the split was not amicable. The two brothers, however, played down any bitterness during an April 1 interview with CNN.

"It just kind of got narrow-minded, and we just wanted to bust it open a little bit more and just broaden it up, go for the Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors instead of the one, you know what I mean?" Darrell Abbott said.

Vinnie Paul Abbott said: "We had 13 years of really, really good success. And basically the singer wanted to move on, do some other things and really lost his focus."

At least 1 audience member among deaths
At least one of those killed Wednesday night -- Nathan Bray, 23 -- was a member of the audience. Mull identified another deceased victim as Erin Halk, 29, although it was unclear if he was a concertgoer or an employee.

Mull did not identify the remaining fatality. Abbott was the only band member confirmed dead "at this point," he said.

One of the wounded is in critical condition, the other hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Two others were hurt and treated at the scene, although the nature of their injuries was unclear.

Mull said homicide detectives are checking possible amateur video shot inside the club during the shooting but said they weren't sure if the footage would be useful.

Police roped off a huge area of the nightclub's parking lot as 60 detectives questioned hundreds of witnesses. Police brought in buses to keep the witnesses warm as they waited.

Witnesses described the gunman as a heavyset man, wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey jersey.

Calvin Bota said he saw the shooting from the mosh pit in front of the stage shortly after the band began playing.

"Somebody came -- I don't know where they came from, out of the audience or whatnot -- but they come onto [the] stage and ... he shot the guitarist at first, fired a couple of other shots and then he hid behind the stage a little bit," Bota told CNN affiliate WSYX.

"Everybody started scattering, you know, there's mayhem everywhere. And then a police officer came into the building, you know, came in professional with his gun raised, and then he proceeded to shoot the guy."

Mull said Columbus police have responded to previous incidents at the club, including several he characterized as minor as well as a shooting in the parking lot. He said he was unaware of the club's security practices, except that it had no surveillance camera or metal detector.

"They are in charge of their own security inside," he said. "There are times they hire off-duty Columbus police for parking lot security -- we are prohibited by law from working inside a liquor establishment -- but last night there were none."

Butterflyz

I heard about this, thing morning. It's horrible. I thought I was hearing a prank on the radio but... I still don't quite believe it. I mean he was Dimebag!

R.I.P

a n d i

I heard about this on TV last night. Though I'm not particularly a fan of either band it's still extremely sad.

Primordial

It is going to take me a long time to wrap my head around Dimebag being gone, and under such horrible circumstances! I have only just gotten over the fact that Pantera had broken up... This is far beyond that.

I have been playing only Pantera all-day-long to work, at work (it was also on the radio) from work, now i'm at home, I have been playing every one of their songs. My personal tribute.

Hot Rod

I heard about it yesterday morning on the radio and still can`t believe this has happened. I`ve been a Pantera fan for many years and this is just unbelievable tragic. Dime was one of my favorite musician and an inspiration for me to play guitar. I just don`t know what else to say other than that we`ll miss the hell out of him.

R.I.P. Dime

Novlótë

I saw it today on my way home from school, it's so ****in' awful I can't believe it.
I'm not the biggest Pantera/damageplan fan there is, but I have so much respect for them and I just can't belive Dimebag is gone..I mean, he's supposed to be invinsible for **** sake!
I really can't handle this, things like this is just not supposed to happen!
I'm gonna have a Pantera marathon now and then I will sleep.
damn it all.

Sunnyolaf

My mom told me that someone had gotten killed and that it had to do with Pantera but that was all she could recall. When I got the chance to read the paper I was shocked to find out it was Dimebag. It seems so unreal to me.

Inner Fantasy

I know, everybody. I know. I have so much respect for Dimebag and for Pantera's art as a whole. It's disgusting and grossly unfair that he had to go like that. What makes me really angry is that no one can be held accountable; the police killed Darrell's killer. Why the hell is it that whenever these things happen, NO ONE has any idea that this person is a psychopath and nothing is done to stop their actions?!!! For ******'s sake, all the guy wanted to do was play his music and he ends up dying for it.

*sigh* I wish his family much luck in surviving their grief. It tears you apart.

Darrell, find some peace, buddy. Say hi to my Dad for me.

ROCKSTAR

I'm sad and shocked.

I heard about this a couple of days ago on the radio and was just speechless. I can't believe something like this could happen.

May they all rest in peace.

*MaRiGoLd*

I heard this last night...i was so....sad. He was a great guitar player, and he always will be. Pantera's one of the most important metal bands in the world, and we cant ever forget that....ever!!...

R.I.P Dime...

Serenity_In_Murder

I have been left feeling stunned and it hasn't really sunk in yet, it feels like it is only just a dream, and i have been close to crying for the past day or so.
I just can't get over it, the man was a better guitar player than some of the so-called greats of yesteryear.

Just listening to his work proves this, it is a sad sad day indeed, now that we have been denied the music from a damn good guitar player.
All because of a retarded son of a piece of filth, and the idiotic actions they took against Dimebag.

The world of music is now minus one talented guitarist.

It feels like a bad dream i can't wake from.

R.I.P Dimebag my son, you are gone but most definately will never be forgotten.

TRUE METAL WILL NEVER DIE!

Maliejandra

My friends almost went to that. The guy at the door wouldn't let them talk to one of their friends inside so they could get in free. And they're mad they didn't get to go too. One said he really wanted to be shot at and hear "Dimebag"'s last riff.

Primordial

To anyone here who loved Dimebag, and the musical revolution he helped inspire, please read the writings contained within the following link, you will be angered as much as I was after I had read it...

http://www.iconoclast.ca/MainPage.as...=/newPage6.asp

Please do read it in its entireity. And express your annoyance to this pathetic excuse for a homo-sapien. Like maybe send him nice emails and express your feelings on what he says about Darrell and his murder.

Sick Boy

My friend Scott cried like a baby when he found out, They were like one of his top bands ever.

Primordial

Then send him the link I posted in the above post of mine, and ask him to read the whole letter. He will be even more shocked at how narrow-minded a person can be...