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SnotBubbles
Dec 8, 2009 5:06pm
Just saw a buddy post this on Facebook and couldn't believe it has been 5 years already. On December 8, 2004, Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed onstage during a Damageplan performance at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus.
My buddies band "Syntheory" was scheduled to play this show but the lead singer became ill and they didn't perform. At that time, my wife and I followed them to all of their "large" shows and we would have been there.
From Wikipedia.com, regarding the incident:
Nathan Gale of Marysville (formerly from my current county) shot Dimebag five times, including once in the head, killing him instantly. Damageplan's drum technician, John "Kat" Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, were injured. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, taking the time to reload once and remaining silent throughout the shooting. To avoid being injured or killed himself, Abbott's brother and bandmate, Vinnie Paul, was taken to the bar/kitchen on the other side of the club. Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, the band's head of security, was also killed in the incident while engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Gale. Alrosa Villa employee Erin Halk was killed after charging Gale after he had run out of bullets, expecting him to reload more slowly than he actually did. Audience member Nathan Bray was killed while trying to perform CPR on Dimebag and Mayhem.
Brooks scuffled with Gale onstage but was overpowered and taken hostage in a headlock position. Brooks was shot several times (once in the right hand, his right leg, and his right side) while attempting to get the gun away from him. Five police officers came in the front entrance, led by Officer Rick Crum, and moved toward the stage. Officer James D. Niggemeyer came in through the back door, behind the stage. Gale only saw the officers in front of the stage; he never saw Officer Niggemeyer. Niggemeyer armed with a 12 gauge Remington 870 shotgun approached Gale from the opposite side of the stage, to avoid hitting the hostage Niggemeyer fired a single shot, striking him in the face. Gale was found to have 35 rounds of ammunition remaining. Nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott. She and another fan administered CPR until paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive him.
My buddies band "Syntheory" was scheduled to play this show but the lead singer became ill and they didn't perform. At that time, my wife and I followed them to all of their "large" shows and we would have been there.
From Wikipedia.com, regarding the incident:
Nathan Gale of Marysville (formerly from my current county) shot Dimebag five times, including once in the head, killing him instantly. Damageplan's drum technician, John "Kat" Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, were injured. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, taking the time to reload once and remaining silent throughout the shooting. To avoid being injured or killed himself, Abbott's brother and bandmate, Vinnie Paul, was taken to the bar/kitchen on the other side of the club. Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, the band's head of security, was also killed in the incident while engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Gale. Alrosa Villa employee Erin Halk was killed after charging Gale after he had run out of bullets, expecting him to reload more slowly than he actually did. Audience member Nathan Bray was killed while trying to perform CPR on Dimebag and Mayhem.
Brooks scuffled with Gale onstage but was overpowered and taken hostage in a headlock position. Brooks was shot several times (once in the right hand, his right leg, and his right side) while attempting to get the gun away from him. Five police officers came in the front entrance, led by Officer Rick Crum, and moved toward the stage. Officer James D. Niggemeyer came in through the back door, behind the stage. Gale only saw the officers in front of the stage; he never saw Officer Niggemeyer. Niggemeyer armed with a 12 gauge Remington 870 shotgun approached Gale from the opposite side of the stage, to avoid hitting the hostage Niggemeyer fired a single shot, striking him in the face. Gale was found to have 35 rounds of ammunition remaining. Nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott. She and another fan administered CPR until paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive him.
U
Upper90
Posts: 1,095
Dec 8, 2009 5:16pm
I was there really briefly on Sunday for a friend's show. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, crazy.
S
Soda Popinski
Posts: 367
Dec 8, 2009 5:17pm
Hard to believe that was 5 years ago.
osudarby08
Posts: 734
Dec 8, 2009 5:48pm
Listening to Pantera as we speak...RIP Dimebag
Scarlet_Fever
Posts: 736
Dec 8, 2009 6:00pm
My neighbor at the time was at the show standing right next to the officer as he shot the guy who shot Dimebag.
darbypitcher22
Posts: 8,000
Dec 8, 2009 6:01pm
5 years ago? really?
j_crazy
Posts: 8,372
Dec 8, 2009 6:18pm
Sad story. I might pick up the book on this Gale.
H
hang_loose
Posts: 802
Dec 8, 2009 8:16pm
From what I remember, Nathan Gale was a pretty big guy. Besides that 12 guage, it might of taken 2 or 3 people to take him down.
RIP Dimebag!
RIP Dimebag!
M
mtrulz
Posts: 2,905
Dec 8, 2009 8:31pm
He was an awesome guitarist.
V
visionquest
Posts: 206
Dec 8, 2009 8:48pm
RIP Dimebag! Had so much more to offer us in his playing, but was cut short before we could hear it. Bummer...and you know that Pantera would have eventually put aside their differences and gotten back together. I love Dimebag but Damageplan blew chunks. Pantera STILL rules however.
pmoney25
Posts: 1,787
Dec 8, 2009 8:55pm
I love Pantera. Fuckin Hostile!!!!! Probably my fav Pantera song. RIP DIMEBAG
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Dec 8, 2009 9:57pm
And your neighbor was on stage why? RIP Dimebag.Scarlet_Fever wrote: My neighbor at the time was at the show standing right next to the officer as he shot the guy who shot Dimebag.
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
Dec 8, 2009 10:41pm
I knew one of the security guards who was also on stage. On the footage from that night you can see him pretty clearly.
Mooney44Cards
Posts: 2,754
Dec 8, 2009 10:44pm
Have I been living under a rock that I never knew this happened?
Fab4Runner
Posts: 6,196
Dec 8, 2009 10:56pm
^ Yes.
D
DESCENTdmc
Posts: 372
Dec 8, 2009 10:57pm
im gonna sound like a huge douchebag, but i was mostly pissed about this happening because it cause a show i was goin to see there later that months to be cancelled. Hatebreed/Sick Of It All and like 3 other good hardcore bands, it was pretty much hatebreeds last good tour since all the ones since then have been shit tours with metal bands.
it sucks that people lost their lives though
it sucks that people lost their lives though
S
Society
Posts: 1,146
Dec 8, 2009 11:23pm
Yes.darbypitcher22 wrote: 5 years ago? really?
From the OP:
Just saw a buddy post this on Facebook and couldn't believe it has been 5 years already. On December 8, 2004, Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed onstage during a Damageplan performance at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus.
zambrown
Posts: 1,093
Dec 9, 2009 1:03am
Wow, I didn't realize it had been this long ago either. What a tragedy.