WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Winston-Salem man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to kill a married couple during a violent workplace attack in March, according to Forsyth County court records.
Lamard Defre Crawford, 62, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and malicious assault in secret. Superior Court Judge David Hall sentenced Crawford to 18 years and four months to 24 years in state prison. He was given credit for 206 days spent in the Forsyth County Jail while awaiting trial.
The incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. on March 17 at 5000 Overdale Road, a road transfer station operated by Republic Services. Authorities said the confrontation involved employees of Endurance Environmental Solutions, where Crawford had worked for 18 years.
According to police and court documents, Crawford struck Shannon Lynn Bicking from behind with a golf club, hitting her multiple times. When her husband, Ethan Temple Bicking, attempted to intervene, Crawford pulled a 9 mm handgun and shot him.
Both victims were taken to a local hospital and survived their injuries.
Investigators learned there had been a prior disagreement between Crawford and the couple, though the nature of the dispute was not detailed in court filings.
Crawford was arrested shortly after the attack and charged with trying to kill the Bickings. No additional information about the motive was disclosed.