It was today, December 9, ten years ago, when most of us heard the horrific news: legendary Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott had been shot and killed, along with three other people, the night before, at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. That fateful night has stuck with many people over the past decade, and is something that I'm sure everyone who was personally affected by that night will never forget.
The Columbus Dispatch posted an amazing story on three men who are forever united by the unfortunate events that took place that night: club owner Rick Cautela, Andy Halk, who was the brother of one of the victims, and James Niggemeyer.
James Niggemeyer was the first cop to arrive on scene after the 911 calls started pouring in regarding shots fired at the club, and he was the cop who took out Dimebag's killer with a single shotgun blast.
The Alrosa was already in chaos by the time Niggemeyer rushed in through the back door. Dimebag had been shot as well as anyone who tried to intervene. Alrosa security guard Erin Halk died charging the gunman as he reloaded, as well as longtime Damageplan security guard Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson and 23-year-old Nathan Bray. Three other people were wounded that night, including stage tech John Brooks, who was taken hostage as the police entered the building. Brooks was being held in a choke-hold when Niggemeyer fired the only shot it took to drop the killer and end the madness. Investigators later found out that the gunman had 35 rounds of ammunition left.
That night has stuck with Niggemeyer for the past ten years, and it is something he still deals with. He remained on patrol for three more years, but at the advice of doctors, he was transferred to the robbery division as a detective. In the end, he was diagnosed with PTSD and was removed from his post as a first-responder.
According to The Columbus Dispatch:
“Cops are regular human beings. Things affect us the same way they affect everyday citizens. We relive it and have to deal with the aftermath.”
“I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety disorder,” Niggemeyer said.
“I found out real quickly that you don’t have any control over your brain,” he said. “It’s going to do what it’s going to do.
[The shooting] “changed my career path — not for the better, certainly,” he said. “I’m happy to have been able to end the situation with no further tragedies after I arrived, but it certainly hasn’t made my life any better.”
Niggemeyer also remarked that he was still in counseling over the incident, which I could imagine. Something like that you can never forget.
The newspaper also reached out to Pantera drummer/Dime's brother Vinnie Paul, who declined to comment. The whole thing is obviously something that Vinnie has no interest airing in a public forum.
Whether he wants to take credit for it or not, John Brooks is alive today due to the efforts by Mr. Niggemeyer, and who knows how many other lives were saved thanks to his split-second decisions.
And for that, we should be grateful.
