L. Anthony Sutin, the 42-year-old Dean of the Appalachian School of Law, was killed on January 16, 2002, in a tragic shooting that shattered the small community of Grundy, Virginia. A former student, Peter Odighizuwa, 43, who had been academically dismissed, entered the law school and opened fire. Sutin was in his office when he was fatally shot at close range. The attack was described as an 'execution-style' shooting, with powder burns indicating the proximity of the weapon.
The violent rampage did not end with Dean Sutin. Odighizuwa also shot and killed Associate Professor Thomas Blackwell, 41, in his office and a 33-year-old student, Angela Dales, in a student lounge. Three other female students were also wounded during the assault before Odighizuwa was subdued and disarmed by fellow students who intervened. The weapon used in the attack was a semi-automatic handgun.
Following the shooting, Peter Odighizuwa, a Nigerian immigrant, was taken into custody by the police. He was subsequently charged with three counts of capital murder, three counts of attempted murder, and multiple firearm offenses. During legal proceedings, it was revealed that Odighizuwa had a history of mental health issues. After being found incompetent to stand trial and receiving treatment, he later pleaded guilty and received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.
