 On December 8, 2004, the band was on a tour at Alrosa Villa, a Columbus, Ohio nightclub. Moments into the concert, Nathan Gale, a former U.S. marine, climbed onto the stage and shot Dimebag Darrell in the head multiple times. Head of Security for the band Jeffery "Mayhem" Thompson engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with Nathan Gale, which allowed Vinnie Abbott and other members to escape; Thompson was also killed. A fan named Nathan Bray attempted to give CPR to Jeffrey Thompson and Dimebag Darrell; he was killed by the shooter too. Erin Halk, a roadie, also a former U.S. marine, was killed when he charged at Nathan Gale while he was reloading. Once the police arrived, an officer named James Niggemeyer approached the stage from the side and saw Nathan Gale holding a gun to a hostage. James Niggemeyer killed him with a single shotgun blast to the head. 15 shots were fired by the shooter, and an additional 36 rounds were found on him.
