Tanner Luke Nicely was a 20-year-old man from Clifton Forge, Virginia, whose life was cut short on Thursday, January 13, 2022. Born in Alleghany County on December 6, 2001, he was a recent graduate of Alleghany High School, class of 2021. Friends and family remembered him as a sweet and caring person who enjoyed riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers, and playing football. He worked at several local establishments, including Cucci's Pizzeria, Trani's Grill, and Bennett's Sawmill.
The circumstances of his death were discovered in the evening when the Alleghany County/Covington Sheriff's Office was called to his residence on Griffith Road. A friend had become concerned after being unable to contact the family. Inside the home, authorities found both Tanner and his 59-year-old father, Brian Scott Nicely, deceased. Both men had suffered gunshot wounds to the head, and a handgun was recovered at the scene.
Initially, the sheriff's department treated the case as a possible murder-suicide, assuring the community there was no further danger. The investigation was a joint effort involving the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Clifton Forge Police Department. However, later information surfaced suggesting that the medical examiner's report might contradict the initial theory. Some sources indicated that the investigation was exploring the possibility that both deaths were suicides. There have been no reports of any arrests or the identification of any other suspects in connection with the deaths.
