Social Worker Nicholas “Nic” Crews Remembered for Dedication to Veterans After Tragic Shooting

Jasper, GA – Nicholas “Nic” Crews, a 34-year-old social worker at the Pickens County Veterans Affairs Clinic, has died from injuries sustained in a shooting on March 17, 2026. Crews, of Marietta, Georgia, was remembered by family and colleagues as a deeply compassionate individual devoted to serving veterans.

A Life Dedicated to Service

For Nicholas Crews, helping others wasn’t simply a profession, but a calling, according to his family. He had initially considered a career in ministry before pursuing a master’s degree in social work, driven by a desire to support veterans struggling with mental health and access to care. “That’s what he felt called to do,” a family member told 11Alive. “He absolutely loved it.”

Details of the Shooting

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) stated that Lawrence Charles Michels, 51, of Jasper, entered the VA clinic for a walk-in mental health consultation and shot Crews. The Pickens Progress reports that Crews was on call at the clinic that day, specifically focusing on walk-in patients. Michels was later confronted by police officers and an armed civilian after exiting the clinic, exchanging gunfire before being fatally shot at the scene.

A Compassionate Colleague and Family Man

Former colleagues described Crews as a genuinely caring and calming presence. One former co-worker, who worked with him at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta before his VA employment, shared, “He loved people so genuinely. And he was such a safe and calming presence…He truly cared to his core, and gave his life in service to others.” WSB-TV reported on these sentiments.

Crews is survived by his wife, Alyssa, who is 38 weeks pregnant with their third child, and their two other young children. His family described him as the “life of the party,” hilarious, energetic, and deeply dependable.

Ongoing Investigation

The GBI continues to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Michels lived less than 10 minutes from the VA clinic. The investigation remains active, and the case file will be submitted to the district attorney’s office for review upon completion. The Pickens County VA Clinic remains closed while the investigation continues, with appointments being rescheduled for veterans.