On January 16, 2002, L. Anthony Sutin, 42, the Dean of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, was shot and killed in his office. Reports describe the killing as execution-style, with powder burns indicating the weapon was fired at close range. The assailant, a former student identified as Peter Odighizuwa, entered the law school and used a semi-automatic handgun.

The attack also claimed the lives of Associate Professor Thomas Blackwell, 41, and student Angela Dales, 33. Three other female students were wounded before fellow students subdued and disarmed the shooter. Odighizuwa, a Nigerian immigrant who had been academically dismissed, was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts related to murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. Mental health history in his background was reported during the ensuing proceedings.