R.I.P. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- A 25-year-old man stormed the stage at a heavy-metal rock concert Wednesday night, shooting and killing 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.

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 block the entrance to the nightclub after the shooting Wednesday night.

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."

R.I.P

rest in peace

CFH

what a huge loss.. one of the best heavy metal guitarist in history.. mad respect for this man.. RIP dimebag

fuck the dude that shot him im glad hes dead... to be honest with you i didnt think people on this site were into anything else besides hip hop.

r.i.p. dime and o.d.b.

to be honest with you i didnt think people on this site were into anything else besides hip hop.

why?.... i know lots of writers that only listen to METAL.

:nope:

REST IN POWER.

just seen the dude 6 days ago in new england.

damn ive been bummed all day

R.I.P.

i listen to all types of music, hip hop, gangster rap, heavy metal, punk rock, fuckin' jazz..

but this is a true shame, "Dimebag Darrel" was fuckin' dope as hell. I seen Pantera play in concert about 5 times & they were dope everytime I seen them. I am shocked & truely dissapointed that someone could do this to a true music artist.

Rest In Peace Dimebag Darrel!!

Live Forever PANTERA!!!

Zombie

RTD CREW

RIP

rest in peace brother, remember in 3 watch it go where hes like "im pre-blown, so im already hooked up, its dime-bonics" hell yea. the man was a fuckin genius, now i really need to grip me up one of those dime slime guitars ive always wanted.

he had ace freehley's signatured tattooed on his chest, i wish i couldve gotten dimebags signature before too late

rip..................fuckin terrible

BOOT TO THE KOOL ! RIP DIMEBAG DARRELL, THERE ARE FEW IN THIS COMMERCIAL AGE THAT CAN MATCH THE BURN AND THE GLORY. RESPECT WALK

r.i.p dimebag, fukin sick guitar player will be sorely missed.

someone did a dope pantera piece under a bridge off the bx river , jus saw it this morn, didnt look like a writter did it,,,average joe type shit,,,RIP

Originally posted by raysin@Dec 12 2004, 09:45 PM

someone did a dope pantera piece under a bridge off the bx river , jus saw it this morn, didnt look like a writter did it,,,average joe type shit,,,RIP

Quoted post

no shit, I got to check that out.

R.I.P.........

for any of the aussies out there turn on your radio "tripple J"

there is a big dedication to dimebag which consists of heavy metal..old interviews...and opinions....

werth a listen...

this shit blows. what the fuck is wrong when you cant even go to a show without the band getting shot up. its kinda cool i guess that damage plan played here like 2 or 3 weeks before this happened though..............rip.

R.I.P to D.B.D...metal community will miss him and his bad ass guitars

RIP to the craziest mothafucka out... it brought tears to mates little brother whos 13 when he heard dime passed and when showin it on the news they showed a picture of dime rockin out with a beer in his hand and vomit chunks in his beared just the way dime did it.... REST IN PEACE...

saw sebastian bach last night, did the sickest cover of walk did dimebag the justice he deserved R.I.P

FUCK ''DICK BAG DARRELL'' HES FUCKING GAY AND HIS MUSIC SUCKS ASS YOUR SO FUCKING RETARD IF YOU LISTEN TO PANTERA AND WRITE GRAFF............

Yeah RIP dimebag.

Vulgar display of power was the best album for me.

That helped get me through my teens.

He's probably playing some bad ass harp up there as we speak.

Actually on second thoughts i doubt he went to heaven.

RIP

A Cowboy From Hell, that was Far Beyond Driven, you were Goddamn Electric, the Medicine Man, who wrote his Message In Blood, using The Art Of Shredding, you died in a Vulgar Display Of Power, Walk to the Cemetery Gates, Rise above the Floods, you are forever Stronger Than All, and we are forever Hollow.

R.I.P "Dimebag" Darrell (December 8th, 2004)

REST IN POWER BROTHER,,,,

to me metal and graff go hand in hand

rip dime

body by zaktlys

blacktoooooooooooooooooooth!

(R.I.P) best guitar player ever!!

rip bro

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RIP DIME.MISS YOU BROTHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nx1nuq1Pt