William Henry Lash III (January 21, 1961 – July 14, 2006) was the Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance at the United States Department of Commerce from 2001 to 2005, and a professor at George Mason University School of Law. Lash was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up in Rahway, New Jersey. In July 2006, at his home in McLean, Virginia, Lash was involved in a domestic incident with his wife, which resulted in her leaving the house and calling the police. When they arrived, he refused them entry, and proceeded to fatally shoot his 12-year-old son and then himself. References External links George Mason University faculty web page 1961 births 2006 suicides African-American academics American politicians who committed suicide Yale University alumni Harvard Law School alumni George Mason University faculty United States Department of Commerce Murder–suicides in Virginia Suicides by firearm in Virginia New Jersey Republicans Virginia Republicans People from Rahway, New Jersey Politicians from Jersey City, New Jersey 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people