'Marriage Link' in North Carolina Nursing Home Shooting

by Rachel Nixon | March 30, 2009 at 08:39 am

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Police in North Carolina are investigating a domestic link as the possible motive for the fatal shootings at a nursing home in Carthage on Sunday.

The estranged wife of suspected gunman Robert Stewart, 45, worked at the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center in Carthage, reports say.

Seven residents and one nurse were among the fatalities. A police officer and the gunman were also injured.

A district attorney said the suspect would be charged with eight murders.

Police chief Chris McKenzie said domestic issues were being investigated as a possible motive for the attack.

The suspect's wife was named as Wanda Luck, who worked at the nursing home as a certified nursing assistant.

The gunman was apprehended after Justin Garner, the only police officer on duty in Carthage at the time, responded to an emergency call and entered the nursing home alone.

He exchanged fire with the gunman, who suffered one wound to the upper torso, while Officer Garner was wounded by three pellets in the foot and leg.

The police chief paid tribute to the officer for his actions, calling him "heroic":

"I don't know if anyone here can understand what it takes for a single officer to enter a facility of any kind with that situation surrounding him, and to forge ahead and do his job... and that's just phenomenal," said McKenzie.

Another report referred to an ex-wife of Mr Stewart who said that he had been trying to get in touch with her over the past week:

Mr. Stewart’s ex-wife from a previous marriage said he had recently been reaching out to family members, telling them that he had cancer and that he was preparing to “go away.”

The ex-wife, Sue Griffin, told The A.P. that she had been married to Mr. Stewart for 15 years. They had not spoken since divorcing in 2001, she said, but he had been trying to call her over the past week through her son, mother, sister and grandmother.

Ms. Griffin said Mr. Stewart had once been a painter. She said she had no idea whether her ex-husband was connected to the nursing home.

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