Crazed Fan Shooting at Columbus Metal Concert

Last night in Columbus at a concert by the band Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa club, a crazed fan shot guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The band was allegedly only about a minute and a half into their first number, "Breathing New Life". The gunman then began shooting into the crowd. Apparently, audience members Nathan Bray and Erin Halk were among the dead.

According to a later and more official statement on the band's website, drummer Vinnie Paul was all right but vocalist Pat Lachman may have been shot. (Other posts seemed to think it was Abbott's brother, but at least one report had Lachman shot in the leg and then having the gun misfire at his head.) A bassist from one of the opening bands apparently tried to shield the musicians and was shot himself. At least two security guards were shot, and other fans were shot at. A police officer nearby got in through the back door of the club and shot the shooter.

Some reports claimed the shooter blamed the guitarist and his brother/bandmate for breaking up their former band, Pantera. This was unconfirmed. The shooter was also reported as having taken a hostage at some point, and as originally having gotten in by jumping the fence, but the information was secondhand. Still another story claimed that the shooter got into an altercation with security because of crowdsurfing, which led to the shooting.

The band website's messageboard appears to have some semi-official information, but has been overrun both by grieving fans and truly vicious trolls.

We will probably hear more about this (ad nauseam). But I would like to extend my condolences. I doubt I'd ever find myself at a metal show, but I don't even know how I'd feel if one of my musical heroes was killed in front of me. More to the point, it sounds like some very good people have been killed and wounded. I'm sure everyone's thoughts and prayers will be with them and their families.