Dr. Adriel Duland Johnson, a 52-year-old African-American male, was a respected associate professor of biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, whose life was tragically cut short on February 12, 2010. His death, along with two of his colleagues, sent shockwaves through the academic community. The day of the incident, a faculty meeting was being held in the Shelby Center for Science and Technology on the university's campus.
It was during this meeting that a fellow associate professor of biology, Amy Bishop, opened fire on her colleagues.
Dr. Johnson was a dedicated educator and mentor, passionate about his work in cell biology and nutritional physiology. Beyond his professional life, he was a devoted family man and an active member of his community, involved with the Boy Scouts and his church. His contributions to academia and his community were significant, and he was remembered by friends and colleagues as an enthusiastic and optimistic individual.
The shooter, Amy Bishop, was apprehended at the scene. She was subsequently charged with one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted murder. The two other faculty members killed in the shooting were Dr. Gopi Podila, the chairman of the biological sciences department, and Dr. Maria Ragland Davis, an associate professor of biology. Three other faculty members were injured in the attack. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the families of Dr. Johnson and Dr. Davis filed wrongful death lawsuits. The university and the wider community mourned the loss of Dr. Johnson, establishing a memorial scholarship in his name to support students in biology and nursing.
