Historical Events tagged with "virginia"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Teresa Lewis Executed in Virginia

September 23rd, 2010 14 years ago

Teresa Lewis was executed by lethal injection for her involvement in the 2002 murder of her husband and stepson. In a historic moment, she became the first woman executed in Virginia since 1912. Lewis's case attracted significant media attention and controversy, particularly about the death penalty and her mental competency. Despite appeals for clemency, Lewis faced execution, highlighting the complexities surrounding capital punishment in the United States.

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Crime & Law

Virginia Tech Shooting Leaves 32 Dead

April 16th, 2007 17 years ago

Seung-Hui Cho, a student at Virginia Tech, opened fire in two separate locations on campus, using handguns to kill 32 people and injuring 17 others. The rampage began in a dormitory before moving to a classroom building. After the shooting, Cho took his own life, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

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Military & Warfare

National Museum of the Marine Corps Dedicated

November 10th, 2006 18 years ago

The National Museum of the Marine Corps was dedicated in Quantico, Virginia, by U.S. President George W. Bush. During the ceremony, President Bush announced that Marine Corporal Jason Dunham would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for his bravery in combat. The museum serves to honor the history and sacrifices of U.S. Marines.

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Military & Warfare

F-22 Raptor Joins USAF Active Service

December 15th, 2005 19 years ago

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor was officially inducted into active service with the United States Air Force. This advanced stealth fighter is designed for air dominance, supersonic cruise, and advanced avionics. The announcement occurred during a ceremony at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, signifying a major step in modernizing the US military's air capabilities. The F-22's unique design allows it to operate in contested environments and maintain superiority over adversaries.

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Crime & Law

Beltway sniper attacks terrorize the D.C. area

October 2nd, 2002 22 years ago

The Beltway sniper attacks commenced with the first shooting in a series of 13 incidents which left 10 people dead and several injured over a three-week period. The attacks primarily took place in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with victims targeted at shopping centers and gas stations. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies and garnered widespread media attention as the community was thrown into a state of fear. The shooting spree was attributed to John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, who eluded apprehension for weeks by using a mobile sniper setup.

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Crime & Law

Lindh Pleads Guilty to Supporting Taliban

July 15th, 2002 22 years ago

John Walker Lindh, accused of fighting for the Taliban, pleaded guilty to supplying aid to the enemy and possession of explosives. His plea, part of a deal with prosecutors, came during a federal court hearing where he acknowledged his actions after being captured in Afghanistan.

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Crime & Law

Robert Hanssen Receives Life Sentence for Espionage

May 10th, 2002 22 years ago

Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent, was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for selling classified U.S. secrets to Russia for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds. His actions, which spanned over two decades, significantly compromised national security. Hanssen was arrested in 2001, and following his guilty plea, the extent of the damages caused by his betrayals became clearer. The case highlighted vulnerabilities within U.S. intelligence and the threat posed by insider espionage.

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Military & Warfare

Coordinated Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Landmarks

September 11th, 2001 23 years ago

A series of coordinated terrorist attacks involved 19 members of al-Qaeda hijacking four commercial airplanes. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, resulting in their collapse. A third aircraft struck The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control from the hijackers. The attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and significant destruction, prompting widespread fear and urgent national security response.

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Crime & Law

Indictment of Saudis in Khobar Towers Bombing

June 21st, 2001 23 years ago

A federal grand jury indicted 13 Saudi nationals and one Lebanese in connection with the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers, a U.S. military complex in Saudi Arabia. The attack resulted in the deaths of 19 American servicemen and injured hundreds more. The indictments were part of a lengthy investigation into the bombing, one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces overseas at the time. The grand jury focused on evidence linking the suspects to terrorist groups and foreign intelligence operations.

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