ValleyCrest Consoles Employees After Shooting

NOVI, Mich. – Four days after a tragic suicide-murder incident stunned its Detroit branch, ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance is doing what it can to ease the devastation caused by a fired mechanic who shot and killed a former co-worker before turning his .22-caliber rifle on himself.

“Our deepest sympathy goes to the families,” expressed Renu Nallicheri, assistant chief operating officer of the Calabasas, Calif.-based landscaping company. “This is extremely traumatic for all of us but especially our staff in Detroit that were in the office at the time of the incident. We are doing our best to support our staff in Detroit.”

Chief Executive Officer Burton Sperber and company President Roger Zino have made substantial efforts to support employees and families impacted by the shootings. Zino, Sperber and his wife, Charlene, are attending private and family services in the Detroit area Nov. 25. ValleyCrest has also created a fund for the family of victim Brian Bawden, 24, of Madison Heights. The company has arranged for counselors to be on hand at the office as well.

Although details from the incident are unfolding, the gunman’s name is being withheld by police until his family can be notified.

According to a story printed in The Detroit News, the gunman – who had been employed by the company as a mechanic for four months – was fired Nov. 21 from ValleyCrest. At approximately 4:10 p.m. – an hour after being fired – he returned to the office trailer of the company’s Novi, Mich., branch with a semi-automatic rifle. A secretary, who saw the gunman enter the trailer, hid in another office and called police, explained Novi Police Chief Doug Shaeffer.

After killing account manager Bawden, the gunman walked into the office where the secretary was hiding and forced her to type a letter he dictated regarding his problems with three other employees.

After the woman fled, the gunman signed the note and then killed himself, Shaeffer stated.
 
"We're extremely shocked by this," Nallicheri added. "This is the first time something like this has happened in the company's 53-year history."

The author is Assistant Editor - Internet for Lawn & Landscape and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.