Ed. Note: For background on Mr. Peter Martin, see his obituary.
On February 17, our world was irrevocably altered by a senseless act of violence in Crozet. Peter Martin and Diane Spangler were both tragically killed in a mass shooting at a local grocery store, an event that, though deeply personal to the Martin family, is part of a larger pattern of preventable violence affecting our communities. The attack was perpetrated by a 28-year-old man who, we understand, had long struggled with severe mental health issues and was in possession of an arsenal of weapons. It appears that the shooter intended to cause as much harm as possible, and, but for sheer luck, would have killed many more innocent people.
Peter’s death was not an isolated incident. It was the direct result of a failure in the mental health and public safety systems—systems that were warned about the shooter’s dangerous state and his access to weapons. We understand that the shooter’s family had repeatedly reached out to local authorities, raising concerns about his mental health and the risk he posed to the community. Despite these warnings, he was able to carry out his deadly plan, and two lives were lost as a result.
This tragedy could have been much worse. While we are grateful that an off-duty federal agent was present at the time of the shooting, this was a stroke of luck. The presence of the agent likely prevented further loss of life, but this incident should never have been allowed to occur in the first place. The shooter’s intent was clear: to cause mass casualties. Had he not been interrupted, there would have been many more victims. This tragedy exposes the critical vulnerability of our community and serves as a sobering reminder that we cannot rely on luck for our safety.
Peter Martin, the man we lost, was a devoted father, loving husband, and a person of exceptional character. Above all, Peter cherished his family. He was an incredibly involved father and husband who loved spending time with his two daughters and wife. His dedication to them was unwavering—whether it was attending their sports games, performances, or simply spending time with them at home. The family depended on Peter in ways that it’s only now beginning to understand. Every problem facing the family, big or small, Peter gladly tackled, without seeking credit or recognition; helping the people he loved was his only goal and reward.
Peter was a model of strength and resilience—both physically and mentally. Despite experiencing multiple serious illnesses and injuries, he always bounced back and never complained. With his tall, muscular stature and fiercely protective nature, his family viewed him as their invincible superhero. They know he would have fought for his life (and probably won) if given the chance—but he wasn’t given that chance. Even superheroes can’t survive an encounter with an AR-15.
Peter, our superhero, was also an adventurer at heart. He loved adrenaline-fueled activities like skiing, rollercoasters, and skydiving. But above all, skiing brought him immense joy. For him, it was more than just a hobby—it was a passion that gave him a sense of freedom and thrill. As a Detroit native, he had an affinity for fast cars, and the excitement of speed always captivated him. But no matter how much he enjoyed these activities, nothing compared to the joy he felt in his role as a father, and he never took risks he felt would put his life or his family’s wellbeing at risk.
Peter’s brilliance was evident in every aspect of his life. He was a self-taught coder, mastering complex programming languages simply because he could. He was the go-to problem-solver in every situation—whether it was fixing a broken oven at a party or teaching himself new skills to solve inefficiencies in his job. His sharp mind made him an outstanding trivia partner, able to recall details from even the most obscure fields of knowledge. But Peter’s talents didn’t stop at technology and problem-solving. He was also an artist, a skill few knew he possessed. His love for drawing and design led him to create artwork for a tattoo parlor in college. As a father, he served as the family’s resident artist—whether it was face-painting for his children’s school events or crafting designs for his friends and family.
Beyond his talents, Peter was a man of remarkable kindness and empathy. He would give anyone the shirt off his back, and if someone needed help, Peter would drop everything to assist. His emotional intelligence was extraordinary—he could empathize with a friend’s pain so deeply that if they cried, he cried with them. He was always there for others, whether it was fixing a friend’s car, offering emotional support, or simply being a listening ear.
Peter was also a strong supporter of his wife’s work in the community. His wife, who has a background in public health and mental health, has spent her career advocating for those suffering from chronic disease and mental illness—including serving on the board of a local organization, Partners for Mental Health. Peter was always by her side, encouraging her efforts and standing up for the most vulnerable members of society. He knew firsthand how vital it is to provide consistent, accessible mental health care. This tragedy, in many ways, underscores the failure of a broken system that Peter’s wife has long fought to improve. She has seen firsthand how the system can break down and fail those who need help most. Yet she could have never imagined it impacting her family so intimately and so tragically.
Peter’s death is not only an unfathomable and irreparable personal loss for our family but also a call to action for our community. Peter would have wanted his legacy to be one that inspires positive change—one that brings people together to make our homes safer, and to ensure that what happened to him does not happen again. For the sake of his beautiful daughters, his wife, and everyone who loved him, we must take action. We cannot let his death be in vain.
There are steps we can take to improve the safety of our communities, and these steps must be rooted in common sense. First and foremost, we need to ensure that laws that are already in place—such as Virginia’s red flag law—are better supported with sufficient funding and oversight. The tragic events of February 17 were preventable. We must strengthen the enforcement of existing laws to ensure that individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others are prevented from acquiring deadly weapons. We also need to focus on improving the safety of our schools, increasing access to mental health services, and providing more training for providers. Most importantly, we need to build a system that fosters better coordination between community-based resources and ensures that mental health support is more accessible for everyone in need.
The Martin family is dedicated to pursuing these changes. Peter was an exceptionally good man, and although tragedy robbed us of this good man, his legacy of kindness, and his love for the community compel us to continue fighting for common sense mental health and gun safety measures to stop the pattern of violence that led to this tragedy. Here is the link to the foundation we are creating: everloved.com/life-of/peter-lock-martin/)
Megan Martin, Christian Rowan (Peter’s brother-in-law), Robert A. Rowan (Peter’s father-in-law)
Crozet
