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Officer Who Took Out Dime's Killer Recieves Honor

posted Sep 16, 2005 at 8:51 AM by MindSlavor.  (17 Comments)

Photo of Damageplan

Band Photo: Damageplan (?)

NBC 4 is reporting that Columbus Police Officer James D. Niggemeyer, who is widely credited for saving lives on Dec. 8, 2004 when he entered Alrosa Villa without backup and killed a crazed gunman responsible for blowing away four people, including PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, is receiving a national honor.

Niggemeyer received honorable mention in Parade magazine's 2005 Police Service Awards. His story will appear in Sunday's edition.

Niggemeyer responded to the DAMAGEPLAN concert at Alrosa Villa. Nathan Gale shot and killed four people and injured three others before Niggemeyer entered the building and killed him with one shotgun blast to the head.

"I could see he was holding a hostage around the neck and still had a gun, so I knew that I didn't want that hostage to be killed," Niggemeyer said.

"When he put the gun to the hostage's head, it became a now-or-never scenario," Niggemeyer said. "Do I let him shoot the hostage in front of everybody? Or do I take what I feel is the best shot to try to keep the hostage from being killed? ... It worked out for the best."

Niggemeyer said that while he was the first and only officer to enter the back of the club, he didn't act alone.

"That's where I have to thank all the other officers that came in the front, because I'm pretty sure that they kept his attention and allowed me to get as close as I did," he said. "And if it wasn't for those officers coming in the front, I don't know if he would've ever picked me off or not."

Niggemeyer said his mission was to save lives.

"If I had to do it again, I had to do it," Niggemeyer said. "I took an oath to protect the public."

Source: blabbermouth

What's Next?

17 Comments on "Officer Who Took Out Dime's Killer Recieves Honor"

Anonymous Reader

1. the ghost of dead(from mayhem) writes:

this guy is a hero
rip dime

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 8:52 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

2. peter griffin from family guy writes:

gone to soon
rip dimebag

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 8:53 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

3. Broken Face writes:

I got alot of respect 4 that officer
RIP Dimebag

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 1:24 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

4. ghey writes:

whyd this bullsh** have to happen :( FUKKKKKKKKKKKKK SSSAAAAAAAKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 1:31 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

5. key to nothing writes:

if it werent for this guy vinnie paul would be dead too,this guy deserves the respect of all metalheads

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 3:30 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

6. heretic121 writes:

see cops arent always bad =X

rip DBD...

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 3:51 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

7. key to nothing writes:

in the south they sure as hell are sh**holes

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 3:53 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

8. Lifer writes:

Too bad he couldn't have been kept alive, brought out back and tortured for his cowardly actions. If there were such thing as Hell, Nathan Gale would have an eternity of suffering courtesy of the legions of Dime Bag fans. R.I.P Dime, you'll never be replaced.

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 4:56 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

9. key to nothing writes:

i agree with every word of Lifers post,that fag deserved worse

# Sep 16, 2005 @ 5:05 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
asianfetish's avatar

Member

10. asianfetish writes:

that cop did good...god rest dimebag

# Sep 17, 2005 @ 8:16 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

11. inhatredofme writes:

that officer is a damn hero and deserves to be honored, and when Dec. 8 rolls around every Dimebag fan better be blasting some Pantera or Damageplan and getting drunk off their ass. hell i plan on sitting in my garage and just jamming some pantera on my guitar.

# Sep 17, 2005 @ 9:55 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

12. key to nothing writes:

recomended playlist for dec. 8:cemetery gates,walk,mouth for war,this love,5 minutes alone,f***in hostile,becoming,new level......just anything from "vulgar display of power",that is the greatest cd ever

# Sep 17, 2005 @ 11:08 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

13. the ghost of DEAD (FROM MAYHEM) writes:

five minutes alone!!!!!!!!!! five minutes!!!!!!

# Sep 27, 2005 @ 5:42 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

14. the ghost of DEAD (FROM MAYHEM) writes:

rip dime

# Sep 27, 2005 @ 5:43 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

15. the ghost of DEAD (FROM MAYHEM) writes:

RE!!!!!!SPECT!!! WALK!!! ARE YOU TALKING TO ME!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY PUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Sep 27, 2005 @ 8:17 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

16. C.F.H writes:

R.I.P Dime you Rhoads, Hendrix , I hope you all are enjoying a black toooooooth !!!!

# Oct 2, 2005 @ 12:01 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

17. Deathknight writes:

James D. Niggemeyer deserves a national honor im f***ing proud rock on brother your a true hero not only to americans but to everybody around the world \m/

# Oct 3, 2005 @ 3:32 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address

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