First, information has started to come in on Nathan Gale, the killer of Dimebag Darrell Abbott and three others in Columbus Wednesday night. The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
- When he heard on the radio that Gale was killed, following a murderous rampage in which he shot and killed four others, Daniel "Bo" Toler just kept repeating: "No way, no way."
Toler, who works at the Bears Den Tattoo Shop across the street from the killer's apartment in Marysville, said Gale never showed any interest in heavy-metal music but rather always talked about foot ball, boxing and tattoo art.
....Mark Green, a coach on the summer-only Lima Thunder football team for whom Gale played linebacker, told the Associated Press that Gale listened to Pantera through headphones to get excited before a game.
"You wouldn't look at him and think he was capable of doing something like this," said Green. "It wasn't like he was a loner."
....But others in this small Ohio town of 12,000 said Gale was a troubled, solitary man.
Gale was an imposing figure, 6 feet 3 and 266 pounds. He cut his red hair short, wore thick glasses and seemed to always wear a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey jersey - the shirt he died in.
....Gale was a 1998 graduate of Ohio Hi Point Joint Vocational School District in Bellefontaine and a member of Fraternal Order of the Eagles lodge in Marysville, where his mother, Mary Clark, is a waitress. He always came in alone and talked to only a few people, said Charlie Modena, a member of the lodge.
...."He seemed like an easy-going guy," said Emi Walden, a waitress. "There was something odd about him, but nothing that would make you fear him."
Gale would talk to Walden about the Marines because her husband had been in the corps. Gale, a former Marine, served from February 2002 until November 2003, when he was discharged early.
A Marine spokesman said the only way a person could be discharged before his enlistment ends would be for discipline problems or for a psychological or medical discharge. Walden and other employees noticed that Gale would frequently join in other people's conversations, but never start one. He would also always ask other people for cigarettes and not smoke his own, as if looking for an excuse to interact with them.
Article comments
1 - jackson
dime bag was the reason i started playing guitar, and when i was younger i wish that i could one day own one of his guitars. Two years ago i got my dream and now own a dime bag darrell dime bolt and i also got to see my idol play in brisbane australia and i must say it was the best time of my life seeing him play.
dime bag brother u will be miss by many
and ur music will not only go down in history but u are the king of metal guitar playing and your music will always be a part of me and my guitar playing. I wish dime bag's family all the best and vinne don't stop playing brother let the music live on !!
2 - Tim Hall
It does sound as though the killer might have been an undiagnosed paranoid schitzophrenic (sp?)
3 - Andrew Ian Dodge
I am just glad the bugger is dead...he won't hurt anyone else now.
4 - Martin Berkey
DimeBag is a legend, listening to Pantera is what helped me stay motivated to move on in the Marines, i am disgusted that the killer used to be a Marine. we have more discipline than that, which is probably why he got kicked out. My heart goes oyt to Dimebags, family, Panter, and Damageplan. I am sorry to hear that this happined. Its a Big Tragedy.
5 - felix diaz
i am still sad for that nameless crime,i face thhis life saying to myself "stay heavy" and the sound of his guitar with the heaviest band in the world PANTERA brought me the strenght for that,sorry Dime Vinnie and all the people affected and their families,wherever you are Dime stay heavy!!!!!!!!
6 - Moco
I'm still devastated!!!! How? Why? Gale doesn't deserve to be called a Pantera fan. To blame Dime for Pantera breaking up is just unthinkable, or anyone in Pantera for that matter. The Pantera guys just took seperate directions in their lives and im sure there would be a reunion at one point in the future. Now Gale ruined that. Just think about it man, no more Dime, no more Pantera. Gale you mother f***ker
I think there should be a tribute to Dime, he deserves that!!!! And i'm sure anyone in the world of metal would help out.
Dime, when i die and meet you in metal heaven the jacks (or cuervos)are on me dude!!!! R.I.P.
7 - Eric Olsen
there is a public memorial today, as well as foundations setup in Darrell's name - see here for informaion
8 - Karen Stickney
I think Nathan Gale was mad at Dimebag for collabortating with Nickelback. Doesn't anyone agree with me?
9 - mike
bimebag came to rock and he rocked like no others R.I.P Dimebag
10 - Steve-o
Dimebag was and still IS the best guitarist out there. I started playing when I discovered him.. I am also from Texas myself and born in the same city as him, Dallas. It has been a long time since this happened and I still am shocked. Dimebag Darrell got me through Iraq as a soldier and gets me through the day as a civilian. Dime, may you rest in peace and smoke one for me.. As for Nathan Gale, I need to find his grave so I can piss on it. Shouts to all of the metal and Dime fans out there.
"I don't want to be burried in a well preserved body. I want to slide in sideways at 70 mph, on fire, with holes, and shooting, saying to myself, "Holy shit!! that was one hell of a ride"
R . I . P . DARRELL LANCE ABBOT "DIME"
11 - ireneeee
ok dime was an inspiration to all of us and for him to go that way was just horrible!
12 - mongo
i feel that the marines should show some more responsiility for what happened .the marines are training people everyday in counter terrorism isn't that the same as showing how to commit terrorism and should what he did be considered an act of terrorism.
13 - LoL that sucks
man they should really get better security, getting shot for no reason really sucks.
maybe metal bands should wear bullet proof vests next time lol......
14 - Lucas
Dude, i want to cry.i miss Dimebag!!
15 - fukc pantera
hahaha!! at last!! all of you people just forget him... mind the MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE im emo!!wa hahahah
16 - vaJENNAmo
FUCKYOU EMO!