Robert Stewart and the 2009 Carthage Nursing Home Massacre
Overview
Robert Kenneth Stewart carried out a mass shooting at the Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage, North Carolina, on March 29, 2009. Stewart, who was 45 years old, entered the nursing home while heavily armed and opened fire in its hallways. Seven elderly residents and one nurse were killed. A visitor and a responding police officer were also wounded before the officer shot and stopped Stewart.
The attack occurred shortly before 10:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Pinelake was a 120-bed facility that cared for elderly residents, including people living with Alzheimer's disease and other serious medical conditions. Employees were beginning their normal morning routines when Stewart arrived at the property. Investigators concluded that he had apparently gone there searching for his estranged wife, Wanda Neal, who worked as a nurse at the facility.
Events Before the Shooting
Stewart and Neal had a long and troubled relationship. They had married when they were young, divorced, and later remarried. In the weeks before the massacre, Neal had separated from Stewart and left their home. Relatives and acquaintances described Stewart as possessive and prone to angry outbursts. Neal reportedly left because she feared his behavior and no longer felt safe living with him.
On the morning of March 29, Stewart drove to Pinelake in a Jeep Cherokee. He was carrying several firearms, including a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun, a .357 Magnum revolver and a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun. A camouflaged .22-caliber rifle was also found outside near his vehicle. The number and variety of weapons, together with the ammunition and other equipment he brought, became important evidence during his later prosecution.
The Attack in the Parking Lot
After arriving at the nursing home, Stewart fired into the unoccupied vehicle used by his estranged wife, breaking its windows. Visitor Michael Lee Cotten was driving into the parking area when Stewart fired at his vehicle. Cotten was struck in the shoulder but managed to escape from the car and enter the building.
Despite his wound, Cotten warned employees and residents that an armed man was approaching. His warning gave staff members a brief opportunity to lock doors, move patients and seek shelter. Emergency calls began reaching police at approximately 10:00 a.m.
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