Nathan Miles Gale was born on September 11, 1979, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the youngest of three sons to Gerald and Mary Gale. In his early years, he lived in Lansing, a suburb of Chicago. His life changed when his parents divorced. After the divorce, he moved with his mother to Marysville, Ohio. His two older brothers stayed in Illinois with their father.

Gale went to Benjamin Logan High School, where he briefly wrestled. During his junior year, he transferred to Marysville High School. After high school, he attended a vocational program at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center. There, he studied construction and electrical work. He graduated in 1998.

After graduation, Gale lived with his mother. He worked various minimum wage jobs but struggled with substance abuse. He often felt paranoid and thought he was being watched, which his mother thought was due to his drug use. His relationship with his mother worsened after a violent confrontation led to police intervention. This caused Gale to be thrown out of his home, making him homeless for a time. To survive, he panhandled and stole until he agreed to enter a drug rehabilitation program. His mother eventually let him return home after he completed the program.

During this time, Gale had a few minor run-ins with the law. He received some trespassing charges for skateboarding and was accused of stealing from a job. In February 2002, inspired by the September 11 attacks, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training, his mother bought him a Beretta pistol for Christmas. Gale served at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina but was discharged in November 2003, which was before his typical enlistment period was over.

Gale claimed he was discharged because of paranoid schizophrenia. After his return home, he was given medication but stopped taking it. The Department of Veteran Affairs found him a job as a mechanic, and he informed his employer about his mental health condition.

Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing over 250 pounds, Gale took up boxing and football after leaving the military. He joined the Lima Thunder, a semi-professional football team, as an offensive lineman. Gale was a fan of heavy metal music and became obsessed with the band Pantera during high school. His friends noticed changes in his behavior as he became more erratic. They recalled him talking to himself and acting strangely in public.

As time went on, Gale's friends began to distance themselves from him. Neighbors described him as quiet and aloof. Gale faced several traffic citations and was charged with criminal trespassing for various incidents, including sleeping outside.

On December 8, 2004, at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, a mass shooting took place during a concert by the band Damageplan. Nathan Miles Gale, who was 25 years old at the time, entered the venue just before the band took the stage. He had been waiting outside and expressed disinterest in the opening acts. Around 10:20 PM, as Damageplan began their performance, Gale rushed onto the stage wearing a hockey jersey and fired a Beretta 92FS 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Gale's main target was the guitarist Darrell Abbott, known as "Dimebag Darrell." He shot Abbott four times at close range. The attack resulted in Abbott's death. In the chaos, Gale then shot at several others. Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, the band’s head of security, attempted to tackle Gale but was shot and killed. Nathan Bray, a fan who jumped on stage to help, was also shot and killed. A staff member, Erin Halk, was mortally wounded while trying to assist during the shooting.

Other individuals sustained non-fatal injuries, including the band’s tour manager Chris Paluska and drum technician John Brooks. They were quickly taken to the hospital for treatment. Travis Burnett, a crew member, was grazed by a bullet but managed to escape.

Gale continued the attack until Officer James Niggemeyer arrived at the scene three minutes after the first shots were fired. He entered through a backstage door and shot Gale, killing him instantly. At the time of his death, Gale still had ammunition in his possession and had fired a total of 15 rounds during the attack.

The aftermath of the shooting saw numerous discussions about security at concerts. While some speculated that Gale was motivated by the breakup of the band Pantera, which Abbott had previously been a part of, a detailed investigation found no solid evidence to support this claim. In the wake of the shooting, many in the music community called for improved security measures at live shows.