On a Monday afternoon that shattered the tranquility of Crozet, Virginia, Diane G. Spangler, a retired nurse known for her warmth and love for life, became an innocent victim in a sudden act of violence. It was February 17, 2025, when the 68-year-old resident of Afton found herself in the parking lot of the Blue Ridge Shopping Center. What should have been a routine trip to the Harris Teeter grocery store turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy.
Diane was seated in her car when a
man, later identified as 28-year-old Justin M. Barbour of Crozet, approached and shot her. Moments before, Barbour had fatally shot another individual, 43-year-old Peter L. Martin, as he exited the grocery store. The unprovoked attack, carried out with an AR-15 rifle, sent shockwaves through the quiet community. The rampage was brought to an end when an off-duty federal law enforcement officer, who was also at the scene, heroically intervened, shooting and killing Barbour. Police later found additional firearms in Barbour's vehicle and described the shooting as a random act of violence.
Even in her final moments, Diane's lifelong instinct as a caregiver shone through. Despite being critically injured, she was able to provide a medical history to the staff at the University of Virginia hospital, seemingly unaware of the severity of her wounds. Her family found solace in the fact that she was not in pain, scared, or alone in her final moments. A graduate of Radford College with a nursing degree, Diane had dedicated her career to caring for the most vulnerable as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at UVA Hospital. She was remembered by friends and family for her love of reading, her dogs, live music, and spending time with her cherished friends and beloved family.
The investigation into the tragic shooting concluded that Barbour acted alone. As he was killed at the scene, there were no arrests or trial. The community was left to mourn the senseless loss of two of its members, including a woman who had spent her life nurturing others, only to have her own life violently cut short.
