OMG I'm freaking out.. Dimebag is dead
(12:20am)
I just got a horrid phone call from my buddy Jon who was in Columbus, OH tonight drumming for Hanzel Und Gretyl on the Ministry tour. Apparently a guy ran up onstage at the Damage Plan show down the street from the venue Jon was playing and started opening fire with a .45. Dimebag was shot and killed, as was I believe their singer Patrick Lachman. Also allegedly dead is their tour manager and one of the clubs security guards. Details are very sketchy at the moment, but I've confirmed this with several people and it is true.
From nbc4i.com site:
"At Least 3 Dead, 4 Wounded In Nightclub Shooting
Witnesses: Alleged Gunman Went Onto Stage, Fired Shots
POSTED: 10:32 pm EST December 8, 2004
UPDATED: 11:36 pm EST December 8, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At least three people died and four others were wounded after a shooting at a Columbus nightclub on Wednesday night, NBC 4 reported.
The shooting took place shortly after 10 p.m. at Alrosa Villa, located at 5055 Sinclair Road.
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 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. Witnesses said that a bouncer at the club tackled the alleged gunman before that person was shot and killed. It was unclear as to whom shot the alleged gunman.
Alrosa Villa is a popular north Columbus nightspot for young adults, featuring rock and heavy metal bands, NBC 4 reported.
According to the band's Web site, Damageplan was touring nationally. It performed in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday night and had a concert scheduled in Flint, Mich., on Thursday.
Damageplan featured former Pantera artists Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. The pair were joined by vocalist Patrick Lachman and bassist Bobzilla, according to their Web site."
I'm really shaken by this as I knew the brothers (Dimebag and Vinnie) through Static-X. The bands were good friends and always partied together when we hit Tx. I had just seen them about a week ago on their tour with Shadows Fall as my buddy Dave was doing their lights. Luckily he's off the tour now and was uninjured. I was freaking out about him. I cant believe this has happened. It's definitely true and Definitely FUCKED!
UPDATES:
(12:40am)
"Monty610, a fan who was at the Al Rossa Villa posted this first-hand account on our Gossip Boards:
Oh my God...
I'm shaking so bad I can hardly type this.
THIS IS NO FUCKING JOKE!!!
I went to see Damage Plan tonight at The Al Rosa Villa here in Columbus. And I'm afraid I may be the bearer of some VERY TRAGIC news...
Less than a minute into Damage Plan's set, some guy ran onstage, grabbed Dimebag, and just started pumping shots into him!!! I am in total shock right now. I was close to the stage and it was all very confusing. As soon as I realized that the shots were real, I got the fuck out of there, along with many screaming and crying others. It's lucky there was not a Station style trampling on the way out the door.
THIS IS SO FUCKED UP!!! The breaking news here is that at least 5 people were shot and 3 are confirmed DEAD!!! They have not said if Dimebag is one of them, but I'm serious folks...I don't see how he could still be alive. When I turned to look at the stage the last time, he was still down... "
(1:05AM)
Ok apparently the guy grabbed Dime and just started pumping shot after shot into his head even when he was on the ground and they think there were multiple shooters. They're combing the streets still.
Excerps from a woman at the shows posts:
"i saw him get shot. an hour ago. not 10 feet away from me. i saw him get shot. an hour ago. not 10 feet away from me. don't know about pat or vinnie paul. bob was unhurt. we were at the show, my son & i. i was up front taking pictures. i saw the guy run on stage & grab dime & start shooting him in the head. he kept shooting into his head while he was on the ground. news says another band member is dead. my son said it looked like vinnie paul. he said looked like pat was shot in the leg, maybe. we saw bob inthe parking lor screanming & crying but unhurt. seemd like a million times & stood over him shooting when he was on the ground. he was shooting for maybe 5 minutes or more. little burst, then nothing. you'd think the guys was caught, then he'd shoot more. my boy saw a security guard grab him from behibd. the guy reached back & shot him in the face. "
I've had it confirmed that Vinnie is ok.
(1:46AM)
Ok Pat's ok... he was shot in the leg, but should be fine. The media has apparently has confused the bouncer (Mayhem) who was shot in the face, for another band member.
(2:19am)
Gunman kills 4 at Ohio nightclub
Police officer shoots suspect to death
Thursday, December 9, 2004 Posted: 2:12 AM EST (0712 GMT)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire Wednesday night during a heavy metal concert in Columbus, killing four people -- including at least one member of the band -- and critically wounding at least two others before a police officer shot and killed him, according to Columbus police.
The attacker leapt onstage as the group, Damageplan, performed, and began "targeting members in the band," Sgt. Brent Mull said.
Two others were injured in the incident, although the nature of their injuries was not clear.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunman initially shot and killed the band's guitarist, Dimebag Darrell. Darrell, 38, and his brother, Vinnie Paul, 40, are former members of Pantera -- a group they formed in the 1980s. Their father is Jerry Abbott, a country and western songwriter and producer.
Police were notified of the shooting at the Alrosa Villa nightclub on the city's north end around 10:18 p.m. ET, Mull said. A uniformed police officer who was in the area slipped into the venue from a back entrance, confronted the gunman during the rampage and killed him.
"If not for the officer who showed up, there would have been more dead," Mull said.
Police have roped off a huge area of the nightclub's parking lot, as 60 detectives question hundreds of witnesses. Police have brought in buses to keep the witnesses warm as they wait to be questioned.
Calvin Bota said he saw the shooting from the mosh pit right 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 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."
Gerald Caudill told WSYX the gunman shot the guitarist at least four times.
"I was up close to the stage and I just saw some guy run up on the side of the stage and I heard some shots and I saw (drummer) Vinnie Paul and somebody jumped on top of Vinnie, and the guy just stayed around the stage and started shooting other people," Caudill said.
"I saw wounded people all over the place, out in the parking lot, inside," he said. "It just didn't sound like gunshots or anything, it didn't occur to me that something like that was happening."
(3:03AM)
Five Dead, Two Injured In Columbus Nightclub Shooting
Reported by: A.P.
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: 9News
12/9/2004 12:23:15 AM
A man opened fire in a crowded nightclub during a rock concert Wednesday night, killing at least four people and wounding at least two others before he was shot to death by police, authorities said.
A man walked on stage during the show at the Alrosa Villa and opened fire on band members, killing four people and wounding at least two others, said Columbus police spokesman Sgt. Brent Mull, adding that more people could have been shot and left the scene before authorities arrived.
Mull said a police officer shot and killed the gunman. It wasn't immediately clear whether the officer was already at the show or had responded to an emergency call.
Columbus resident Chris Couch, 22, said the shooting occurred about 30 seconds after the show's headliner, DAMAGEPLAN, had begun playing.
Couch, who was standing about 30 feet away from the stage, noticed a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and hockey jersey walk up to the stage, followed by a bouncer and another club employee.
The man in the jersey climbed onto the stage, started yelling and shot the guitarist five or six times at close range, Couch said.
Couch said the gunman also shot a bouncer who pulled him off the musician.
At that point, Couch and a friend headed for the exit along with a tide of hundreds of fans.
It appeared the gunman purposely sought out the guitarist, whom Couch identified as a performer who went by the name "Dimebag Darrell."
Authorities didn't immediately provide the identities of the victims.
"It was definitely a grudge. It was against something," Couch said.
Amanda Stankus, 19, who attended the show with Couch, said she initially thought the shooting was part of the show.
"I just saw the guitarist fall down, and we decided to get out of there," said Stankus, of Columbus.
Stankus said she didn't see any metal detectors or uniformed police officers at the venue and that she wasn't searched or frisked on her way in."
(3:07am)
Beginning to just get conflicting status reports now so I'm calling it a night. I wish this night never happened!
Keep checking www.NBC4i.com for updates!
Darrell Lance Abbott, a.k.a. Dimebag Darrell
August 20, 1966 - December 8, 2004
I just got a horrid phone call from my buddy Jon who was in Columbus, OH tonight drumming for Hanzel Und Gretyl on the Ministry tour. Apparently a guy ran up onstage at the Damage Plan show down the street from the venue Jon was playing and started opening fire with a .45. Dimebag was shot and killed, as was I believe their singer Patrick Lachman. Also allegedly dead is their tour manager and one of the clubs security guards. Details are very sketchy at the moment, but I've confirmed this with several people and it is true.
From nbc4i.com site:
"At Least 3 Dead, 4 Wounded In Nightclub Shooting
Witnesses: Alleged Gunman Went Onto Stage, Fired Shots
POSTED: 10:32 pm EST December 8, 2004
UPDATED: 11:36 pm EST December 8, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At least three people died and four others were wounded after a shooting at a Columbus nightclub on Wednesday night, NBC 4 reported.
The shooting took place shortly after 10 p.m. at Alrosa Villa, located at 5055 Sinclair Road.
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 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. Witnesses said that a bouncer at the club tackled the alleged gunman before that person was shot and killed. It was unclear as to whom shot the alleged gunman.
Alrosa Villa is a popular north Columbus nightspot for young adults, featuring rock and heavy metal bands, NBC 4 reported.
According to the band's Web site, Damageplan was touring nationally. It performed in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday night and had a concert scheduled in Flint, Mich., on Thursday.
Damageplan featured former Pantera artists Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. The pair were joined by vocalist Patrick Lachman and bassist Bobzilla, according to their Web site."
I'm really shaken by this as I knew the brothers (Dimebag and Vinnie) through Static-X. The bands were good friends and always partied together when we hit Tx. I had just seen them about a week ago on their tour with Shadows Fall as my buddy Dave was doing their lights. Luckily he's off the tour now and was uninjured. I was freaking out about him. I cant believe this has happened. It's definitely true and Definitely FUCKED!
UPDATES:
(12:40am)
"Monty610, a fan who was at the Al Rossa Villa posted this first-hand account on our Gossip Boards:
Oh my God...
I'm shaking so bad I can hardly type this.
THIS IS NO FUCKING JOKE!!!
I went to see Damage Plan tonight at The Al Rosa Villa here in Columbus. And I'm afraid I may be the bearer of some VERY TRAGIC news...
Less than a minute into Damage Plan's set, some guy ran onstage, grabbed Dimebag, and just started pumping shots into him!!! I am in total shock right now. I was close to the stage and it was all very confusing. As soon as I realized that the shots were real, I got the fuck out of there, along with many screaming and crying others. It's lucky there was not a Station style trampling on the way out the door.
THIS IS SO FUCKED UP!!! The breaking news here is that at least 5 people were shot and 3 are confirmed DEAD!!! They have not said if Dimebag is one of them, but I'm serious folks...I don't see how he could still be alive. When I turned to look at the stage the last time, he was still down... "
(1:05AM)
Ok apparently the guy grabbed Dime and just started pumping shot after shot into his head even when he was on the ground and they think there were multiple shooters. They're combing the streets still.
Excerps from a woman at the shows posts:
"i saw him get shot. an hour ago. not 10 feet away from me. i saw him get shot. an hour ago. not 10 feet away from me. don't know about pat or vinnie paul. bob was unhurt. we were at the show, my son & i. i was up front taking pictures. i saw the guy run on stage & grab dime & start shooting him in the head. he kept shooting into his head while he was on the ground. news says another band member is dead. my son said it looked like vinnie paul. he said looked like pat was shot in the leg, maybe. we saw bob inthe parking lor screanming & crying but unhurt. seemd like a million times & stood over him shooting when he was on the ground. he was shooting for maybe 5 minutes or more. little burst, then nothing. you'd think the guys was caught, then he'd shoot more. my boy saw a security guard grab him from behibd. the guy reached back & shot him in the face. "
I've had it confirmed that Vinnie is ok.
(1:46AM)
Ok Pat's ok... he was shot in the leg, but should be fine. The media has apparently has confused the bouncer (Mayhem) who was shot in the face, for another band member.
(2:19am)
Gunman kills 4 at Ohio nightclub
Police officer shoots suspect to death
Thursday, December 9, 2004 Posted: 2:12 AM EST (0712 GMT)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- A gunman opened fire Wednesday night during a heavy metal concert in Columbus, killing four people -- including at least one member of the band -- and critically wounding at least two others before a police officer shot and killed him, according to Columbus police.
The attacker leapt onstage as the group, Damageplan, performed, and began "targeting members in the band," Sgt. Brent Mull said.
Two others were injured in the incident, although the nature of their injuries was not clear.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunman initially shot and killed the band's guitarist, Dimebag Darrell. Darrell, 38, and his brother, Vinnie Paul, 40, are former members of Pantera -- a group they formed in the 1980s. Their father is Jerry Abbott, a country and western songwriter and producer.
Police were notified of the shooting at the Alrosa Villa nightclub on the city's north end around 10:18 p.m. ET, Mull said. A uniformed police officer who was in the area slipped into the venue from a back entrance, confronted the gunman during the rampage and killed him.
"If not for the officer who showed up, there would have been more dead," Mull said.
Police have roped off a huge area of the nightclub's parking lot, as 60 detectives question hundreds of witnesses. Police have brought in buses to keep the witnesses warm as they wait to be questioned.
Calvin Bota said he saw the shooting from the mosh pit right 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 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."
Gerald Caudill told WSYX the gunman shot the guitarist at least four times.
"I was up close to the stage and I just saw some guy run up on the side of the stage and I heard some shots and I saw (drummer) Vinnie Paul and somebody jumped on top of Vinnie, and the guy just stayed around the stage and started shooting other people," Caudill said.
"I saw wounded people all over the place, out in the parking lot, inside," he said. "It just didn't sound like gunshots or anything, it didn't occur to me that something like that was happening."
(3:03AM)
Five Dead, Two Injured In Columbus Nightclub Shooting
Reported by: A.P.
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: 9News
12/9/2004 12:23:15 AM
A man opened fire in a crowded nightclub during a rock concert Wednesday night, killing at least four people and wounding at least two others before he was shot to death by police, authorities said.
A man walked on stage during the show at the Alrosa Villa and opened fire on band members, killing four people and wounding at least two others, said Columbus police spokesman Sgt. Brent Mull, adding that more people could have been shot and left the scene before authorities arrived.
Mull said a police officer shot and killed the gunman. It wasn't immediately clear whether the officer was already at the show or had responded to an emergency call.
Columbus resident Chris Couch, 22, said the shooting occurred about 30 seconds after the show's headliner, DAMAGEPLAN, had begun playing.
Couch, who was standing about 30 feet away from the stage, noticed a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and hockey jersey walk up to the stage, followed by a bouncer and another club employee.
The man in the jersey climbed onto the stage, started yelling and shot the guitarist five or six times at close range, Couch said.
Couch said the gunman also shot a bouncer who pulled him off the musician.
At that point, Couch and a friend headed for the exit along with a tide of hundreds of fans.
It appeared the gunman purposely sought out the guitarist, whom Couch identified as a performer who went by the name "Dimebag Darrell."
Authorities didn't immediately provide the identities of the victims.
"It was definitely a grudge. It was against something," Couch said.
Amanda Stankus, 19, who attended the show with Couch, said she initially thought the shooting was part of the show.
"I just saw the guitarist fall down, and we decided to get out of there," said Stankus, of Columbus.
Stankus said she didn't see any metal detectors or uniformed police officers at the venue and that she wasn't searched or frisked on her way in."
(3:07am)
Beginning to just get conflicting status reports now so I'm calling it a night. I wish this night never happened!
Keep checking www.NBC4i.com for updates!
Darrell Lance Abbott, a.k.a. Dimebag Darrell
August 20, 1966 - December 8, 2004