Garreth Tomar Rondaz Bickham was a 35-year-old Black man from Shelby, North Carolina. Known to some by the nickname "2 Snug," he was a father of two who was remembered for a smile that could light up a whole room. His life was cut short in a shooting in late May 2022.
On the night of Friday, May 27, 2022, just before midnight, Gastonia police and emergency personnel responded to a report of a shooting near the intersection of Rankin Avenue and North King Street.
First responders found Garreth Bickham inside a car, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Detectives with the Gastonia Police Department quickly identified a suspect in the homicide: Terry Antonio Lomick, a 41-year-old from Gastonia. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging Lomick with first-degree murder and began an active search, asking the public for any information on his whereabouts. The U.S. Marshals joined the manhunt, noting that Lomick was a known Bloods gang member and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The search for Lomick ended on June 14, 2022. Acting on information, Gastonia Police and U.S. Marshals located the suspect at a home on North Boyd Street in west Gastonia. After officers surrounded the residence, Lomick surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder for the death of Garreth Bickham.
Following the arrest, detectives continued to investigate a possible motive for the shooting and to determine the relationship between the two men. As of June 2022, the case was proceeding through the legal system.
