Former Pantera [ tickets ] guitarist Darrell Abbott--a.k.a. "Dimebag" Darrell--was shot and killed while performing on stage with his current band, Damageplan [ tickets ], when a gunman opened fire in a Columbus, OH, club on Wednesday night (12/8).

At a press conference on Thursday (12/9), Columbus Police Sgt. Brent Mull said that, according to witness accounts, Abbott and his bandmates--drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott (Darrell's brother and ex-Pantera bandmate), vocalist Patrick Lachman and bassist Bob "Bob Zilla" Kakaha--had just begun performing shortly after 10 p.m. at the nightclub Alrosa Villa when a gunman jumped on stage and fired multiple shots at close range toward Abbott, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The alleged shooter--identified as Nathan Hale, 25, of Marysville, OH--also allegedly shot and killed three other victims, including an audience member identified as Nathan Bray, 23; U.S. Marine Corps veteran Erin Halk, 29, who was working at the show; and Texas resident Jeff Thompson, 40.

Earlier unconfirmed reports of an additional band member among the dead proved false.

Mull said that 911 calls began pouring in at 10:18 p.m., and that Officer James D. Niggemeyer was on scene by 10:20 p.m. When Niggemeyer arrived and entered the club, Hale allegedly had a hostage in a headlock, had fired into the crowd, and appeared ready to shoot the hostage. The officer subsequently shot and killed Gale.

Two other victims were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Their identities and conditions weren't released.

According to Mull, homicide investigators were reviewing amateur video footage that was filmed during the incident.

Mull said police didn't know why the shooting took place.

"We may never know the motive for this," he said. "Unless [Hale] left a note, we may never know.

Darrell Abbott, 38, emerged in the early '90s as one of metal's premiere guitarists while part of Texas rock outfit Pantera. Following that band's demise last year, the Abbott brothers formed Damageplan, which released its debut set, "New Found Power," in February. The group was planning to head into the studio to record a follow-up set when their current tour ended, according to an audio message from Vinnie Paul Abbott that was posted at the band's website.