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Tributes Scheduled For Shooting Victims

Band Photo: Damageplan (?)

An Ohio radio station scheduled a live tribute Sunday night to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the guitarist who was killed during a shooting spree at the Alrosa Villa Wednesday night.

WBZX-FM scheduled a live tribute for Abbott and three other shooting victims killed during last week's concert, NBC 4's Barbra Flannigan reported. The tribute was to include live bands and calls from music fans. Organizers said they hoped the event would help the community heal. WBZX disc jockey Scoop Richards was at the concert, Flannigan reported. "It's just something we needed to do," Richards said.

Volume Dealer was the opening act for Damageplan. The group witnessed the shootings. "This has been a huge black eye for Columbus," said Volume Dealer vocalist Billy Payne. "We don't need that, because rock and roll is starting to be accepted a little more."

The radio station hoped that heavy metal music lovers want to heal deep wounds by playing Abbott's songs on the air. Fans were welcome to call in, especially if they were among the approximately 250 fans that attended the concert.

Volume Dealer scheduled a benefit concert for Thursday night at The Derby in Grove City. Proceeds from the concert would go to the family of Nathan Bray, one of the shooting victims. Bray, 23, was buried in Circleville on Saturday, NBC 4 reported.

On Monday, funeral services are scheduled for Erin Halk, who was a security guard at the Alrosa Villa. Witnesses told Halk's family that he was trying to stop gunman Nathan Gale from shooting other people when Halk, 29, was killed. Damageplan bodyguard Jeff Thompson also died in the shootings.

Two men were wounded in the attack. John Brooks, an employee of the band, was released from Riverside Methodist Hospital on Friday and returned home to Texas. Damageplan tour manager Chris Paluska was upgraded to fair condition at Riverside, NBC 4 reported.

Read the full article at nbc4i.com.

Source: nbc4i.com