Gunman wounded 3 tree trimmers, then stalked them through the woods, NC cops say

A horrifying case of a gunman stalking three wounded utility workers through the woods has concluded in a plea deal, according to prosecutors in western North Carolina.

Lucas Wilson Murphy, 39, will spend the next 25 to 32 years in prison, the 35th Prosecutorial District of NC wrote in a Dec. 6 news release.

Murphy “viciously attacked” the three men on July 24, 2024, as they cleared a utility company’s right of way near his cabin in the Burnsville area, prosecutors said.

“Without provocation, Murphy emerged from his cabin with a .22 rifle and began shooting at the tree workers, hitting and seriously injuring three of them. Murphy continued to stalk the victims through the woods until sheriff’s deputies with the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office arrived,” prosecutors said.

“Because of the remote nature of the scene, deputies initially had to access the site on foot using a rough forest road. As they approached Mr. Murphy’s cabin he began shooting at the deputies. They then returned fire, injuring Murphy. At that time Murphy surrendered and was taken into custody.”

Investigators say deputies John Proffitt, Joe Edwards, Jason Edmonds and Brandon Wilson acted heroically when they ran “into the line of fire without regard for their own safety.”

“The outcome here would have been even worse,” District Attorney Seth Banks said in a statement.

Murphy pleaded guilty to:

• Three counts of attempted murder
• Three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury
• Three counts of assault with a deadly weapon
• Four counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm

The three tree trimmers survived. Their identities and details of their injuries were not released.

“In structuring this plea, we were able to ensure a long prison sentence for Mr. Murphy while also bringing closure and respecting some of the victim’s desire not to have to relive the horrors of that day through their testimony at trial,” Banks said.

Burnsville is about a 130-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.