Was PANTERA's Breakup A Factor In DIMEBAG DARRELL's Murder?

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Columbus police are trying to determine whether Nathan Gale, a 25-year-old semipro football player accused of killing DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was incensed because of last year's breakup of Mr. Abbott's previous band, PANTERA, one of the top metal acts of the 1990s.

"He loved PANTERA. He was like weird, man, about his obsession with PANTERA," said Mike Norris, who frequents a tattoo parlor across the street from Mr. Gale's home in Marysville, a town about 25 miles from Columbus. "I knew the guy was out to lunch, but I can't believe this."

Mr. Gale, a landscaper, mechanic and sometimes bass player who had just made his car payment a day earlier, ran along the stage Wednesday night and yelled something before firing five or six times at Mr. Abbott, 38, from point-blank range.

Abbott died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to the Franklin County coroner's office.

The 6-foot-3, 266-pound gunman had a man in a headlock and appeared to be reloading when the officer shot him in the face with a rifle, a police spokesman said.

The hostage was unharmed, but Jeff Thompson of Dallas, 40, a technician with the band, was killed, as were Erin Halk, 29, a club employee, and fan Nathan Bray, 23. Two others were injured, one critically.

Other victims of Nathan Gale at the Alrosa Villa club Wednesday night:

Jeff Thompson (photo),40, Dallas. A member of DAMAGEPLAN's road crew who worked security for the last year.

Nathan Bray, 23, Grove City, Ohio. A DAMAGEPLAN fan who went to the club for the group's concert.

Erin Halk, 29, Columbus, Ohio. He worked for the club loading band equipment.

Two others were wounded; one was in critical condition and the other had injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. Two others were treated at the scene.