Bruce Yount Stewart Jr., a 45-year-old white male, passed away on March 2, 2011, in Rowan County, North Carolina. The circumstances surrounding his death were tragic and complex. According to reports, Stewart was involved in an apparent murder-suicide incident with Lester Clay Efird, a 63-year-old man. The incident occurred in the front yard of Stewart's home on Trexler Road.
Both men were shot in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun.
The Rowan County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Kevin Auten, indicated that the incident appeared to be the result of an ongoing domestic situation. Efird's estranged wife had been dating Stewart for about seven months, which led to tensions between the two men. Neighbors and family members reported that the fighting between Stewart and Efird had been ongoing since the relationship began.
Authorities had been called to Stewart's home in the past for disputes between the two men, possibly as recently as January 2011. On the day of the incident, both men were found dead in the front yard, and investigators were unable to determine which man was the shooter. The State Bureau of Investigation assisted the Rowan County Sheriff's Office in the investigation, and autopsies were performed on both men by the state Medical Examiner's Office.
Stewart was remembered by his family and friends as a kind and helpful person. He was a graduate of East Rowan High School and a native of Rowan County. His death left a significant void in the lives of those who knew him.
