A real hero

I grew up in northern Moore County. My grandmother was a Garner, and everyone in the Robbins area seems related in some way. But I don’t think I know Justin Garner (left), the true hero who stopped a gunman (on the right) before he could kill more residents at Pinelake nursing home in Carthage Sunday morning.

Right now I would love the chance just to shake his hand. This is a hero in every sense of the word. Still not sold? Listen to the 911 tapes obtained by The Pilot of Southern Pines Monday.

Officer Garner — the only officer on duty Sunday morning in the sleepy little town I spent much of my life in — did not hesitate. It would have been perfectly acceptable for him to wait on back-up before going in to stop Robert Stewart.

That probably would have resulted in many more deaths, as the patients and staff at the rest home were almost completely powerless. Instead, Garner went in and did his job, singlehandedly stopping Stewart.

I can’t say I would have the same courage. And I’m glad we have men like Garner out there on our side.

As for the attack itself, I have to say I am still pretty shocked. I never thought I would see Carthage on the front page of the New York Times.

What a horrible person and a horrific event. That is the only way to describe someone who would kill seven elderly people – one of whom, Louise De Kler, was 98 years old. Imagine what she had seen in her life – both world wars, the Great Depression, the moon landing, 9/11 – everything in the last century. And now, because of some lovesick crazy man, she is dead. Another victim, Tessie Garner, 89, lived near my father’s pottery shop in Robbins and was a great and kind lady.

What a coward in Stewart. It doesn’t take much to go in to a nursing home and pick off victims – some in their wheelchairs, no less.

And what a hero in Garner. Or as we say in Robbins, “It takes all kinds,” a comment that is usually followed with, “no, we just got all kinds.”

Thank God we have kinds like Justin Garner on our side.