Columbus Nightclub Shootings Kill 5, Wound 2

(Columbus, Ohio) From a NBC4i.com report, five people were killed and two others wounded by a lone shooter at the Alrosa Villa nightclub last night.

Two members of the heavy metal band Damageplan were reportedly shot and killed, including Dimebag Darrell, formerly with the band Pantera, NBC 4's David Wayne reported. The other band member's name was not released. The alleged gunman also died at the scene, Wayne reported.

Shortly after the band began playing its first song, a man reportedly ran onto the stage and began shooting, according to a witness who identified himself as Sean. Some members of the audience reportedly thought the man running onto the stage with a gun was part of the band's act, NBC 4's Erin Tate reported.

Witnesses said that several shots were fired at the band before a bouncer tackled the gunman before he was shot and killed.

Columbus police Sgt. Brent Mull said the shooter appeared to be targeting the band members. After opening fire on the stage, the gunman turned on the crowd. At that point, an officer shot the man dead, Mall added. Police said there could have been many more fatalities had the officer not killed the gunman.

Of the two wounded victims, one is in critical condition and the other is in fair condition. No motive for the attack has been identified.

[Update 12/09/04, noon EST] The shooter has been identified as Nathan Gale, 25, of Marysville, and according to Columbus Police Sgt. Brent Mull, "Unless he left a note, we may never know" the motive for the shootings.


Nathan Gale
Officer James D. Niggemeyer, who was patrolling near the club, shot and killed Gale while he was holding a person hostage in a headlock. "I can't say enough about (Niggemeyer's) abilities, his skills, the way he handled this investigation," Sgt. Mull said.

Thus far, the dead have been identified as the shooter Gale, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, audience member Nathan Bray, presumed audience member Erik Hall, and another person whose identity was not released. Many injured during the shooting spree and chaos were treated at the scene and released.

Police are reviewing an amateur videotape to determine what events occurred leading up to the shooting.

Companion post at Backcountry Conservative.

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