Eusebio Diaz Gomez, a 34-year-old Hispanic male from Asheboro, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on January 13, 2012. Gomez was one of four victims in a shooting spree at the McBride Lumber Company in Star, NC. The incident occurred early in the morning when 50-year-old Ronald Dean Davis, a coworker who had worked at the lumber yard for 12 years, entered the warehouse with a 12-gauge shotgun and began shooting.
Davis targeted his victims, shooting them at point-blank range before chasing fleeing workers into the woods.
In addition to Gomez, the other victims were Jose Galdino Lopez Izquierdo, 25, also from Asheboro, and Daniel Thomas Davis, 32, who was the gunman's cousin. A fourth victim, Florentino Tellez Aparicio, 21, from Candor, was critically wounded but survived. Davis then took his own life shortly after the shooting, leaving behind a six-page handwritten note that was described as "rambling" and vague. The note mentioned feelings of harassment and paranoia, including claims that someone was putting something into his food.
Authorities investigated the incident thoroughly, but no clear motive was established. The note left by Davis did not provide a definitive reason for his actions, and coworkers denied that he was harassed at work. Despite the lack of a clear motive, the tragic event highlighted issues of workplace harassment and the impact of mental health struggles.
The community was deeply affected by the loss of Gomez and the other victims, and efforts were made to provide support to the families and coworkers impacted by the shooting. The incident also raised awareness about the importance of addressing workplace harassment and mental health concerns to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
