Gunman Kills 8 at North Carolina Rest Home - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-29-2009, 02:40 PM

Link

CARTHAGE, N.C. – A lone gunman burst into a North Carolina nursing home Sunday morning and started "shooting everything," barging into the rooms of terrified patients, sparing some from his rampage without explanation while killing seven residents and a nurse caring for them.

Authorities said Robert Stewart also wounded three others, including the Carthage police officer who confronted him in a hallway of Pinelake Health and Rehab and stopped the brutal attack.

"He acted in nothing short of a heroic way today, and but for his actions, we certainly could have had a worse tragedy," said Moore County District Attorney Maureen Krueger. "We had an officer, a well-trained officer, who performed his job the way he was supposed to and prevented this from getting even worse than it is now."

By late Sunday afternoon, Krueger had charged Stewart, 45, of Moore County, with eight counts of first-degree murder and a single charge of felony assault of a law enforcement officer. Authorities offered few other details, allowing only that Stewart was not a patient or an employee at the nursing home and isn't believed to be related to any of the victims.

"I don't know if the emotion entirely has set in," said Police Chief Chris McKenzie, a Carthage native who said nothing in his nearly 20-year law enforcement career compared to Sunday's slaughter. "It's a small community built on faith, and faith will get us through."

While authorities declined to comment on a possible motive, Stewart's ex-wife said he had been reaching out recently to family members, telling them he had cancer and was preparing for a long trip and to "go away." Sue Griffin said she was married to Stewart for 15 years, and while they hadn't spoken since divorcing in 2001, he had been trying to call her during the past week through her son, mother, sister and grandmother.

"He did have some violent tendencies from time to time," Griffin said. "I wouldn't put it past him. I hate to say it, but it is true."

Authorities said Stewart began his rampage around 10 a.m. at Pinelake Health and Rehab in the North Carolina Sandhills about 60 miles southwest of Raleigh, firing shots inside and outside the home. It ended when 25-year-old Officer Justin Garner traded gunfire with Stewart in a hallway, wounding the suspect.

"He just comes in and just starts shooting everything around," said Sen. Harris Blake, of Moore County, relating the story told by sheriff's officials.

Garner was wounded in his leg, and police said Stewart wounded two others. One person remained hospitalized Sunday night at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in nearby Pinehurst, and police would only say Stewart was in the custory of the Moore County Sheriff.

Krueger said the victims were Pinelake residents Tessie Garner, 88; Lillian Dunn, 89; Jessie Musser, 88; Bessie Hendrick, 78; John Goldston, 78; Margaret Johnson, 89; Louise Decker, 98; and nurse Jerry Avent, whose age wasn't immediately available.

Krueger declined to say where authorities had taken the surviving residents, including patients with Alzheimer's disease, saying only, "They're safe, which is the primary thing."

Beverly McNeill said her mother, Pinelake resident Ellery Chishole, called moments after the gunman stormed into her room and pointed his "deer gun" at her roommate. "They're up here shooting, they're up here shooting," she frantically told her 14-year-old granddaughter, Tavia, over the phone.

Chishole told her daughter she hid her face in her shirt so she couldn't see the man or what she expected him to do, McNeill said. He didn't shoot, but left the room and began shooting down the hallway.

Carthage police, Moore County sheriff's deputies and the State Bureau of Investigation conducted a search Sunday afternoon of the nursing home and its parking lot, where the windows of at least two cars were shattered. Among the items they found was a camouflaged-colored rifle or shotgun, which was leaning against the side of a Jeep Cherokee.

Howard McMillian, of Lakeview, said he raced to the scene as soon as he heard about the shooting. His 56-year-old sister lives at the nursing home, and McMillian said his brother had gotten a call from officials saying she was unharmed.

"I know she's real nervous," McMillian said. "I just want to make sure she's OK."

Carthage is a small town of roughly 1,800 people in the North Carolina Sandhills, an area popular among retirees and home to several noted golf courses, including the famed Pinehurst resort and its No. 2 course that regularly hosts the U.S. Open.

Pinelake Health and Rehab was last inspected in May, and the review resulted in an overall five-star — or "much above average" — rating from federal Medicaid officials. A nursing home Web site said the facility opened in 1993 and has 110 beds, including 20 for those with Alzheimer's disease.

Zoneboy · 03-29-2009, 02:43 PM

This really hits home, My girlfriend lives in Carthage which is about 60 miles from where I live. I know exactly where that rest home is but have never been there.

browneyes106 · 03-29-2009, 03:47 PM

That is pretty horrible. I can't belive a lot of mass shootings took place in different environments that meant to keep people safe.

Marvo301 · 03-29-2009, 11:28 PM

This is really scary. My Mom is in a nursing home and if this ever happened at her facility I don't know if I could handle it. Not only for my Mom's sake but also for all the other patients and the staff members I've come to know since she's been there. This really hits close to home for me and it really scares me.

sara · 03-30-2009, 12:17 AM

That's awful

. Those poor people must have been so scared.

Chocoholic · 03-30-2009, 02:51 PM

That is awful. I don't understand what makes people do these things. I really don't.

God bless those innocent victims and their families.

browneyes106 · 03-31-2009, 12:05 AM

I just read some updates about this story it seems the shooter was looking for his estranged wife who works at the home. According to a few article the retirement home didn't have a lot of security or sign in rules. Which is pretty common at a lot of places. My grandmother lived in a nursing facility for 2 months before she died and there were no visible security and visitors weren't required to sign in. My friend works at assisted living facility for people with mental handicaps and he has said his workplace isn't secure at all and there are some shady dealings going in nearby parks and areas around where he works. My friend works there at night and he does worry a lot.

03-29-2009, 02:40 PM	#1
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 22,556	Gunman Kills 8 at North Carolina Rest Home Link CARTHAGE, N.C. – A lone gunman burst into a North Carolina nursing home Sunday morning and started "shooting everything," barging into the rooms of terrified patients, sparing some from his rampage without explanation while killing seven residents and a nurse caring for them. Authorities said Robert Stewart also wounded three others, including the Carthage police officer who confronted him in a hallway of Pinelake Health and Rehab and stopped the brutal attack. "He acted in nothing short of a heroic way today, and but for his actions, we certainly could have had a worse tragedy," said Moore County District Attorney Maureen Krueger. "We had an officer, a well-trained officer, who performed his job the way he was supposed to and prevented this from getting even worse than it is now." By late Sunday afternoon, Krueger had charged Stewart, 45, of Moore County, with eight counts of first-degree murder and a single charge of felony assault of a law enforcement officer. Authorities offered few other details, allowing only that Stewart was not a patient or an employee at the nursing home and isn't believed to be related to any of the victims. "I don't know if the emotion entirely has set in," said Police Chief Chris McKenzie, a Carthage native who said nothing in his nearly 20-year law enforcement career compared to Sunday's slaughter. "It's a small community built on faith, and faith will get us through." While authorities declined to comment on a possible motive, Stewart's ex-wife said he had been reaching out recently to family members, telling them he had cancer and was preparing for a long trip and to "go away." Sue Griffin said she was married to Stewart for 15 years, and while they hadn't spoken since divorcing in 2001, he had been trying to call her during the past week through her son, mother, sister and grandmother. "He did have some violent tendencies from time to time," Griffin said. "I wouldn't put it past him. I hate to say it, but it is true." Authorities said Stewart began his rampage around 10 a.m. at Pinelake Health and Rehab in the North Carolina Sandhills about 60 miles southwest of Raleigh, firing shots inside and outside the home. It ended when 25-year-old Officer Justin Garner traded gunfire with Stewart in a hallway, wounding the suspect. "He just comes in and just starts shooting everything around," said Sen. Harris Blake, of Moore County, relating the story told by sheriff's officials. Garner was wounded in his leg, and police said Stewart wounded two others. One person remained hospitalized Sunday night at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in nearby Pinehurst, and police would only say Stewart was in the custory of the Moore County Sheriff. Krueger said the victims were Pinelake residents Tessie Garner, 88; Lillian Dunn, 89; Jessie Musser, 88; Bessie Hendrick, 78; John Goldston, 78; Margaret Johnson, 89; Louise Decker, 98; and nurse Jerry Avent, whose age wasn't immediately available. Krueger declined to say where authorities had taken the surviving residents, including patients with Alzheimer's disease, saying only, "They're safe, which is the primary thing." Beverly McNeill said her mother, Pinelake resident Ellery Chishole, called moments after the gunman stormed into her room and pointed his "deer gun" at her roommate. "They're up here shooting, they're up here shooting," she frantically told her 14-year-old granddaughter, Tavia, over the phone. Chishole told her daughter she hid her face in her shirt so she couldn't see the man or what she expected him to do, McNeill said. He didn't shoot, but left the room and began shooting down the hallway. Carthage police, Moore County sheriff's deputies and the State Bureau of Investigation conducted a search Sunday afternoon of the nursing home and its parking lot, where the windows of at least two cars were shattered. Among the items they found was a camouflaged-colored rifle or shotgun, which was leaning against the side of a Jeep Cherokee. Howard McMillian, of Lakeview, said he raced to the scene as soon as he heard about the shooting. His 56-year-old sister lives at the nursing home, and McMillian said his brother had gotten a call from officials saying she was unharmed. "I know she's real nervous," McMillian said. "I just want to make sure she's OK." Carthage is a small town of roughly 1,800 people in the North Carolina Sandhills, an area popular among retirees and home to several noted golf courses, including the famed Pinehurst resort and its No. 2 course that regularly hosts the U.S. Open. Pinelake Health and Rehab was last inspected in May, and the review resulted in an overall five-star — or "much above average" — rating from federal Medicaid officials. A nursing home Web site said the facility opened in 1993 and has 110 beds, including 20 for those with Alzheimer's disease. __________________ *"It's the way things are. A big tree falls and a new one grows right out of the same ground. Old animals die and young ones take their places. Even people step aside when it's time."* (R.G. Armstrong as the Contractor in The Twilight Zone episode "Nothing in the Dark") Last edited by Zoneboy : 03-29-2009 at 08:36 PM.

03-29-2009, 11:28 PM	#4
Marvo301 Forum Veteran I got a rock. Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 16,486	This is really scary. My Mom is in a nursing home and if this ever happened at her facility I don't know if I could handle it. Not only for my Mom's sake but also for all the other patients and the staff members I've come to know since she's been there. This really hits close to home for me and it really scares me. __________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Alfred Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-30-2009, 12:17 AM	#5
sara Senior Member Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,042	That's awful . Those poor people must have been so scared. __________________ RIP Steve Landesberg

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-29-2009, 02:43 PM	#2
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 22,556	This really hits home, My girlfriend lives in Carthage which is about 60 miles from where I live. I know exactly where that rest home is but have never been there.

03-29-2009, 03:47 PM	#3
browneyes106 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,041	That is pretty horrible. I can't belive a lot of mass shootings took place in different environments that meant to keep people safe.

03-30-2009, 02:51 PM	#6
Chocoholic Banned!! Forum Veteran Banned Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,173	That is awful. I don't understand what makes people do these things. I really don't. God bless those innocent victims and their families.

03-31-2009, 12:05 AM	#7
browneyes106 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,041	I just read some updates about this story it seems the shooter was looking for his estranged wife who works at the home. According to a few article the retirement home didn't have a lot of security or sign in rules. Which is pretty common at a lot of places. My grandmother lived in a nursing facility for 2 months before she died and there were no visible security and visitors weren't required to sign in. My friend works at assisted living facility for people with mental handicaps and he has said his workplace isn't secure at all and there are some shady dealings going in nearby parks and areas around where he works. My friend works there at night and he does worry a lot.