virginia beach made national headlines in 2003 when it hosted the first trial of convicted beltway sniper murderer john allen muhammad. the area was selected due to a court order for a change of venue. his trial began in october 2003, and the following month, he was found guilty of capital murder in one of the series of shootings and extortion attempts. four months later, the judge agreed with the jury's recommendation, and he was sentenced to death. in april 2005, the virginia supreme court affirmed the local court's verdict and the death sentence. muhammed was executed on november 10, 2009.