Service Techs Killed in SC Shooting

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor. 

Two HVAC service technicians were killed in South Carolina mass shooting; here’s how you can help. 

We keep hearing about mass shootings in the news to the point that we risk becoming numb to it. It’s a tragedy that is incomprehensible but when it happens somewhere else, and the media stop talking about it, it’s easy to forget. They also pay too much attention to the shooter trying to figure out the why and what motivated this person to carry out this heinous act. We need to focus on those who lost their lives and supporting their families and communities to help them deal with such incredible grief and sorrow.  

RCS partner Green Link Engineering works with an HVAC company, GSM Services in Gastonia, North Carolina, that uses their Knucklehead products to support HVAC equipment on the rooftops of buildings. Dana Castle of Green Link shared the news with us that the two men who were working at the home of Dr. Robert Lesslie were on a service call at the doctor’s home and were shot by the assailant (who I will not dignify by writing his name).  

Their names were James Lewis, who died the day of the shooting, and Robert Shook, who managed to call for help after being shot six times, according to USA Today, but after fighting for several days he succumbed to his injuries. Both James and Robert were just doing their job, providing for their families and were senselessly killed. Each man was a father of three children.  

Dr. Robert Lesslie, his wife, Barbara and their nine- and five-year-old grandchildren Adah and Noah were also killed in the shooting. 

The owners of GSM Services set up a GoFundMe to support their families saying, “We have set up this GoFundMe account to raise money for the families of James Lewis & Robert Shook. Both men involved in this horrific incident are long-standing, beloved members of our family at GSM. These men are family focused, up-beat, and wonderful team members who cared about all the people they encountered.” 

If you would like to make a contribution, please visit their GoFundMe page here.