The man responsible for killing two people with a rifle outside a Harris Teeter grocery store in Crozet last month was shot by an off-duty federal agent less than one minute after arriving in the parking lot, according to new details released today by the Albemarle County Police Department.
The timeline released today for the Feb. 17 fatal shooting in Crozet gives some insight into the tragic event, which started at 1:33 p.m. when Justin Barbour entered the shopping center parking lot, and ended less that one minute later when the agent used their personal weapon to stop any additional casualties.
The first shot was fired approximately 40 seconds after Barbour entered the parking area at 545 Radford Lane. Both victims were shot in four seconds, according to a timeline provided by police.
The preliminary investigation found that Barbour entered the parking lot and fired a rifle at the first victim, Peter L. Martin, of Crozet, who was exiting the grocery store. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, Diane G. Spangler, of Afton, was shot in her vehicle. She was transported in critical condition to UVA Medical Center, where she later died.
The shooter, Barbour, was treated by fire-rescue personnel, but also died at the scene.
The off-duty officer was uninjured.
Barbour fired 28 rounds before he was shot down, according to police investigators.
“We owe an immense debt of gratitude to an off-duty federal law enforcement professional who happened to be at the shopping center when the shooting occurred,” Col. Sean Reeves, the Albemarle County Police Chief, said the day after the tragedy. “This heroic individual selflessly placed themselves in harm’s way to stop the gunman and prevent further loss of life. Without their brave actions, the casualty count could have been much higher.”
Police found that Barbour had no prior relationship with either victim, making the act random in nature; police also did not find any connection to the location where the shooting took place.
Since the shooting, investigators traced Barbour’s whereabouts prior to the incident and determined that he left his residence at The Vue apartment community at approximately 1:22 p.m. He then traveled southeast on Route 240. He reached the crossroads of Route 240 and Route 250 at 1:29 p.m. and arrived at the shopping center parking lot approximately four minutes later.
Peter Martin: Memory to live on through foundation
Peter Lock Martin had a beautiful wife, Megan, and two daughters, Emilia and McKenna, who were his pride and joy, according to his obituary.
Martin had a career in the financial sector and volunteered at mental health organizations, the elementary school and as a basketball coach.
His family is setting up a foundation to support community mental health and gun violence prevention in the Western Albemarle area.
Its mission will include grants to expand access to mental health care, enhance existing mental health and gun violence policies and enhance school-based safety measures.
To date, more than $40,000 has been raised.
Diane Spangler: Remember her as a nurse who loved family and friends
Diane G. Spangler was a longtime resident of Afton, where she enjoyed the peace and quiet her home offered.
She had a nursing degree from Radford and worked in the NICU at UVA Hospital until her retirement.
She was a lover of dogs and rescued Leonbergers and golden retreivers most of her life.
She loved live music, Merlefest, visiting wineries and the beach.
Her obituary said her family and friends will remember her as a nurse who loved her family and friends.
Police: Family sought mental health help on two occasions for Barbour
Barbour did not have a criminal history. There were four contacts with police from 2014 to 2025.
The interactions included being a witness to an incident in 2014 and a minor dispute at a dog park in 2018 that was resolved without action.
“We are committed to not only ensuring a thorough investigation, but also helping our community understand and process this tragic event. As I’ve stated previously, we may never fully understand why this occurred. Our team has worked diligently to provide answers and ensure that all investigative avenues have been explored,” said Reeves. “This was a senseless act of violence that has deeply impacted our community.”
In the two months leading up to the shooting, Barbour’s family had called police twice to report a mental health crisis.
His sister shared on Facebook after the shooting that the family believed he was dealing with paranoia or schizophrenia. She said he thought people were following him and out to hurt him. She said the system failed her brother despite begging for help.
Albemarle County Police confirmed today that the family had reached out – twice – to police to try to obtain an Emergency Custody Order, or ECO, for Barbour.
In December, the responding officer advised the family of the ECO requirements and process but did not take Barbour into custody.
In January, Albemarle County’s Human Services Alternative Response Team, or HART, responded to Barbour’s residence, and the team apparently advised the family of the ECO requirements and process again, according to police. No further action was taken.
“During these interactions with law enforcement, Barbour presented a calm demeanor. There was no indication or evidence of violence, threats or self-harm reported to police, which are the standard threshold to obtain an ECO or Emergency Substantial Risk Order (ESRO),” read a news release from the Albemarle County Police Department.
Community mental health support
The ACPD acknowledged today the impact the shooting had on those present at the scene as well as family and friends of the deceased victims and the community at large.
“In difficult moments like this, we must come together to support one another,” said Reeves. “I encourage anyone struggling in the aftermath of this tragedy to seek support and lean on the resources available.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Community members seeking support are encouraged to reach out to the following agencies that are offering guidance to support those in need:
- Virginia Community Response Network: Up to five free sessions (virtually or in-person) for those who may be experiencing stress as a result of this event by visiting vcrn.org/crozet
- Region Ten Community Services Board: regionten.org or 434-972-1800
- NAMI Blue Ridge: namiblueridgecharlottesville.org or 434-260-8127
- The American Academy of Pediatrics: Resources for how to talk to children about tragedies and traumatic events
Augusta Free Press has reached out to Barbour’s sister to request an interview. We have also reached out to Col. Sean Reeves with the Albemarle County Police Department to share more on the HART response team. We’ve also interviewed a Region Ten representative to talk more about the community resources available when someone is in a mental health crisis. Sen. Creigh Deeds has not responded to our request for an interview.
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Crystal Graham
