COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Police said an officer's quick thinking helped prevent more fatalities from occurring as a deadly shooting took place inside a Columbus nightclub Wednesday night.

Slideshow: Images From Concert Shooting Scene

Slideshow: In Memoriam, Celebrity Deaths 2004

E-Mail: Send Story To A Friend

FeedRoom

Guitairst Killed On Stage

Officer James D. Niggemeyer entered the nightclub, and then shot and killed the alleged gunman, Nathan Gale, during an apparent hostage situation, police said.

In the moments before, police said Gale, 25, from Marysville, jumped onto a concert stage at the Alrosa Villa nightclub and began firing a handgun at a member of the heavy metal band Damageplay, police said.

Lead guitarist Darrell Abbott, who was known as "Dimebag Darrell," was shot and killed. A crowd of about 250 people was inside for the concert that started at about 10:20 p.m.

The band was in its opening song and then witnesses said a man, who was wearing a hockey jersey and hooded sweatshirt, began firing at point-blank range at least four times at Dimebag Darrell, NBC 4's Kyle Anderson reported.

Three other people inside the club were shot and killed. Police said identified one of the shooting victims as Nathan Bray, 23, who was in the audience. Erin Halk, 29, also died. Police did not know whether he was associated with the band or was part of the crowd.

Police said they received 911 calls from inside the Alrosa Villa, and Niggemeyer, 31, who was patrolling near the club, entered the rear of the building before he shot and killed Gale. A fifth person died inside the building, but that person's identity was not released.

Columbus Police Sgt. Brent Mull said that Gale was holding a person hostage at the time the gunman was killed.

"I can't say enough about (Niggemeyer's) abilities, his skills, the way he handled this investigation," Mull said.

According to Mull, amateur video was taken from inside the nightclub and investigators were examining the tape to see if they could determine the events that led to the shootings.

There were no Columbus police officers inside the club due to a policy that prohibits officers from working inside liquor establishments, Mull said. Alrosa Villa management was in charge of the building's security, Mull said.

Police said that they don't have a motive for the shootings.

"Unless he left a note (behind), we may never know," Mull said.

According to police, Gale had a hostage in a headlock position and moved slightly to allow Niggemeyer to shoot the gunman.

"(The gunman) came on stage, from the back, like he knew what he was doing and went straight to Dimebag Darrell immediately," an unidentified witness said.

Authorities spent hours questioning audience members. As calls for help came in, dozens of police and EMS crews were dispatched to the scene.

Emergency room workers at Riverside Methodist Hospital were told to watch out for people who would ask for care on Thursday. Police said that about 100 people left the Alrosa Villa before officers got the scene under control.

Two people who were shot were transported by ambulance to Riverside. Their names were not released and hospital officials would not comment about their conditions.

Columbus police and firefighters set up a triage outside the nightclub to treat anyone with minor injuries.

Many people who were injured during the shooting spree and in the chaos that followed were put on three COTA buses and treated for injuries at the scene.

Alrosa Villa is a popular north Columbus nightspot for young adults, featuring rock and heavy metal bands.

According to the band's Web site, Damageplan was touring nationally. It performed in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday night and had a concert scheduled in Flint, Mich., on Thursday.

Damageplan featured former Pantera artists Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. The pair was joined by vocalist Patrick Lachman and bassist Bobzilla, according to their Web site.