Heavy metal fans awoke to shocking news Thursday morning. Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott, former member of one of the top metal bands of the 1990s, was shot on stage while touring with his new band.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night, Abbott, playing with Damageplan in Columbus, Ohio, was shot and killed.

The gunman, Nathan Gale, killed three others, police say, before a police officer killed him.

No motive was revealed, but witnesses say they heard the gunman say something about the break-up of Pantera. Abbott was a member of the metal group Pantera, one of the leading metal bands of the 1990s, who filled arenas before they split in 2002.

Abbott was 38. He was shot five times in the head.

After shooting at Abbott, police say Gale shot randomly at the crowd. An officer responded to a call and entered the Alrosa Villa nightclub as Gale was holding someone hostage. Reports indicate that Gale was able to reload his round of bullets at least once.

A fan, a club employee and a man associated with Damageplan were also killed.

Witnesses say Gale, in a hooded sweatshirt, walked through the crowd followed by security before shooting. Police happened to be patrolling nearby at the time.

Damageplan were on a tour that they ironically calling, the “Devastation Across the Nation Tour.”

In a post on their web site in November, Abbott thanked his fans for their support.

“I want to thank each and every rocker and roller out there who has always stuck by me, believed in me, and supported me through all my decisions,” he wrote.






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