Decatur vigil honors life of slain Georgia VA social worker; nurses call for more support

Veterans Affairs employees, nurses, and dozens of others gathered in Decatur on Tuesday afternoon to remember the life of a social worker killed in a shooting at the Georgia VA clinic where he worked.

The vigil, held at Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, was organized by National Nurses United and the National Nurses Organizing Committee.

Authorities say 34-year-old Nicholas "Nic" Crews was working at the Jasper VA clinic on Tuesday when 51-year-old Lawrence Charles Michels visited for a walk-in mental health consultation. At some point, investigators say Michels pulled out a gun and shot the social work case manager at least once.

Medics airlifted Crews to a trauma hospital for treatment. He died from his injuries a day later. Michels was shot by police at the scene and died from his injuries.

At Tuesday's rally, organizers called out workplace violence, saying more support is needed for VA workers in order for them to feel safe.

"We provide comprehensive care. There is no place that is more trained to take care of the veterans than the VA. So we are asking the Secretary of the VA to please staff the VA so we can be able to take care of the patients," one participant told CBS News Atlanta.

The groups said that staffing cuts at VA clinics have left patient care services compromised and clinicians unprotected from potential violence.

An investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.