GASTONIA, N.C. – September 29, 2021 – Detectives from the Gastonia Police Department have charged Elijah Kevon Robinson, age 21, of Lancaster, South Carolina, for the first-degree murder of Lamar Fitzgerald Crawford, of an unknown address, that occurred yesterday evening.
Yesterday evening (Tuesday, September 28), at approximately 7:29 p.m., a Gastonia Police Officer was driving in the 900 block of West Airline Avenue when he observed a male, later identified as Crawford, lying in the roadway. The officer checked on Crawford and determined that Crawford had been shot and was suffering from life-threatening injuries. The officer also observed a male, later identified as Robinson, standing on the porch of a nearby residence and holding a handgun. At approximately the same time, multiple calls to 9-1-1 were received by the Gaston County Police Communications Center reporting a shooting that had just occurred in the area of West Airline Avenue and Gaston Avenue.
Gaston Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported Crawford to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Robinson was taken into custody without incident.
During the investigation, detectives determined that Robinson and Crawford did not know each other and the facts and circumstances surrounding this shooting remain under investigation.
Crawford was charged with first-degree murder.
Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to call the Gastonia Police Department at 704-866-6702. Callers may remain anonymous.
Elijah Robinson