Editing Damageplan (section)

===Death of Dimebag Darrell===
{{Main|Columbus nightclub shooting}}

[[File:Dimebag 001.jpg|thumb|Fans pay tribute at the Alrosa Villa nightclub, three days after the murder]]
On December 8, 2004, the band was on a tour at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Moments into the concert, Nathan Gale, a deranged 25-year-old fan, climbed onto the stage, drew a [[9×19mm Parabellum|9 mm]] [[Beretta 92|Beretta 92FS]], and shot Dimebag Darrell five times in the head, killing him. The band's head of security Jeffery "Mayhem" Thompson then engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Gale, which allowed Paul and other members to escape. However, Thompson was shot and killed in the ensuing struggle. A fan named Nathan Bray, who attempted to give [[CPR]] to Thompson and Darrell, and Erin Halk, a U.S. Marine-turned-[[roadie]] who tried to disarm Gale while he was reloading, were both shot and killed as well. Once the police arrived, [[Columbus Division of Police|Columbus Police]] officer James Niggemeyer approached the stage from behind, and saw Gale holding his weapon to a hostage. Niggemeyer shot Gale once in the head with a 12-gauge [[Remington Model 870]], killing him instantly. Fifteen shots were fired by Gale, and an additional 36 rounds were found in his possession.<ref name="Three Years After Dimebag's Murder: Missed Opportunities Abound"/><ref name="Mom Of Concert Killer: He Was Sick"/>

A police investigation did not find any motive behind the shooting, although Gale's mother stated that he was diagnosed with [[paranoid schizophrenia]], and that he believed the Abbott brothers had stolen his lyrics while trying to steal his identity.<ref name="Mom Of Concert Killer: He Was Sick"/> She was unaware if her son took the medication he was given for his condition, but was proud of his military service following his [[Military discharge|discharge]], and had given him the weapon that was used in the shooting. Major Jason Johnston, a Marine Corps spokesman at [[The Pentagon]], was unable to comment on Gale's discharge.<ref name="Three Years After Dimebag's Murder: Missed Opportunities Abound">{{cite news
 |title=Three years after Dimebag's murder: Missed opportunities abound
 |work=Blabbermouth.net
 |date=December 8, 2007
 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86362
 |access-date=February 6, 2008
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211233707/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86362
 |archive-date=February 11, 2008
}}</ref><ref name="Mom Of Concert Killer: He Was Sick">{{cite web
|title=Mom of concert killer: He was sick
|author=Ross Jr., Bobby
|publisher=CBS
|date=December 16, 2004
|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mom-of-concert-killer-he-was-sick/
|access-date=February 5, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Midwest: Ohio: Shooter At Club May Have Reloaded">{{cite news
|title=Midwest: Ohio: Shooter at club may have reloaded
|author=Salvato, Albert
|newspaper=The New York Times
|date=January 15, 2005
|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E6DD1538F936A25752C0A9639C8B63&scp=1&sq=%22Nathan+Gale%22&st=nyt
|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref>

A foundation called The Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund was founded after the incident, which donated its profits to cover medical expenses of drum technician John Brooks and tour manager Chris Paluska, who were among those injured during the shooting.<ref name="New Damageplan Recordings May Surface">{{cite magazine
|title=New Damageplan recordings may surface
|author=Waddell, Ray
|magazine=Billboard
|date=January 14, 2005
|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64517/new-damageplan-recordings-may-surface
|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref> A public memorial service for Darrell took place on December 14, 2004 at Arlington Convention Center in [[Arlington, Texas]]. Many musicians paid tribute to Darrell on message boards and at live performances.<ref name="RIP Dimebag">{{cite web
|title=RIP Dimebag
|publisher=Damageplan.com
|url=http://www.damageplan.com/
|access-date=February 5, 2008
|archive-date=February 16, 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216230601/http://www.damageplan.com/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

In May 2005, Niggemeyer was called before a [[grand jury]], which was convened by the [[Franklin County, Ohio|Franklin County]] [[prosecutor]]'s office to examine the actions taken on the night of Dimebag Darrell's demise, a standard practice when [[deadly force]] is used. The jury found that there was no wrongdoing on Niggemeyer's part. Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien commented, "There was little doubt [the shooting] was lawful, given the 200 eyewitnesses and the circumstances that surrounded the shooting. Nevertheless, we still have an independent body review the facts". Niggemeyer was nominated for a bravery award on the TV show ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''.<ref name="Officer Cleared In Shooting Of 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott's Killer">{{cite web
|title=Officer cleared in shooting of 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott's killer
|author=Harris, Chris
|publisher=MTV
|date=May 23, 2005
|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502740/20050523/dimebag_darrell.jhtml
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129084423/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502740/20050523/dimebag_darrell.jhtml
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=January 29, 2013
|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref>