Dimebag Darrell

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004) (also credited as Diamond Darrell) was the guitarist in the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan.

Dimebag's murder

Dimebag was murdered while performing on December 8, 2004 at a Damageplan concert at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio. Nathan Gale, 25, of Marysville, entered the nightclub at about 10:00 p.m., just after the performance began, after scaling an eight-foot fence and being chased into the building by club security. He entered the left side of the stage and proceeded across to the right where Dimebag was standing. Gale then grabbed Dimebag and shot him twice in the head with a Beretta pistol at point blank range. Dimebag received a total of five to eight gunshot wounds.

Related Topics:
Murder - December 8 - 2004 - Alrosa Villa - Nightclub - Columbus, Ohio - Nathan Gale - Marysville - Beretta - Pistol

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Three others were killed in the shooting: attendee Nathan Bray, 23, of Columbus; club employee Erin Halk, 29, of northwest Columbus; and Damageplan security guard Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, 40, of Texas. The band's drum technician, John Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, were also injured.

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According to police, Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, taking the time to reload once, remaining silent throughout the shooting (although early reports indicated he made disparaging remarks about the breakup of Pantera). When security staff and audience members climbed the stage to try to stop him, Gale fired at them, killing Halk and Thompson and wounding Brooks and Paluska. Gale then took a hostage, holding him in a headlock position. When the hostage moved slightly, Columbus police officer James D. Niggemeyer, who was the first officer on scene, shot and killed Gale with a 12 gauge police issue shotgun in the back of the head.

Related Topics:
James D. Niggemeyer - Gauge - Shotgun

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During the rampage, nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott. She and another fan administered CPR until paramedics arrived http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6660359/pantera?pageid=rs.NewsArchive&pageregion=mainRegion&rnd=1102636992116&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.872. According to some reports, victim Nathan Bray was also attempting to render assistance when he was killed.

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The shootings occurred on the 24th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon, but there is no indication that this was a factor in Gale's actions.

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In May 2005, Officer James D. Niggemeyer went before the Franklin County grand jury, which is charged with formally investigating police shootings. As expected, Niggemeyer was cleared and commended on his outstanding police work in the time of a crisis. He was recently accorded a national honor for his service, and is considered a hero by many fans of Dimebag.

Related Topics:
May - 2005 - James D. Niggemeyer - Franklin County - Grand jury

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The song "In This River", from the Black Label Society album Mafia was written before Dime's death and later dedicated in memorial of Dime by close personal friend Zakk Wylde.

Related Topics:
In This River - Black Label Society - Mafia - Zakk Wylde

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