Justin Garner

Justin Garner is a 25-year-old police officer from Carthage, North Carolina, who answered a 911 emergency call and walked alone into a nursing home where Robert Stewart was on a shooting spree. Garner shot Stewart once, ending the killing and saving untold numbers of people.ABC News: Carnage in Carthage: Gunman Kills 8 in Nursing Home (March 30, 2009)

At about 10:00 am on March 29, 2009, Robert Stewart walked into the Pinelake Health and Rehab Centre in Carthage, North Carolina, armed to the teeth. He used a pile of guns and rifles and moved through the home, opening doors and shooting seemingly at random. He shot 11 people, killing six women and a man, aged 78 to 98, and a male nurse who worked at the center. Several frantic 911 calls were made to the local police station, where Justin Garner was the only policeman on duty.Earth Times: 'Hero' policeman prevented more deaths at small-town nursing home (March 30, 2009) Bloomberg: North Carolina Policeman Cited as Hero of Nursing Home Rampage (March 30, 2009)

Garner responded to the calls, walking into the nursing home unassisted about 15 minutes after the shooting was first reported. Going into emergency situations without a backup is standard operating procedure in Carthage, a rural North Carolina town with a population of 1,800. Garner sought out and cornered Robert Stewart in a hospital corridor, shooting him once in the upper torso and stopping him in his tracks.ABC News: Carnage in Carthage: Gunman Kills 8 in Nursing Home (March 30, 2009)

Garner himself was shot three times in the left foot and calf, but was treated at a local hospital and released to his home. Authorities called Garner a hero, saying there is no doubt that he saved many lives that day.ABC News: Carnage in Carthage: Gunman Kills 8 in Nursing Home (March 30, 2009) News14: Shot officer praised for ending shooting spree (March 30, 2009)