CARTHAGE, N.C. – Residents and officials in Carthage, N.C., are picking up the pieces after a gunman went on a shooting spree at a nursing home this weekend, killing eight people.

Police say 45-year-old Robert Stewart opened fire at the Pine Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Moore County Sunday at about 10 a.m.

Carthage Police Chief Chris McKenzie says officials recovered multiple weapons in their investigation of the incident, but he wouldn’t elaborate on how many weapons were recovered or who they were registered to.

McKenzie was also mum in regards to a motive for the shootings, but did say that the gunman’s wife worked at the facility (Watch video of the Monday morning press conference).

At an afternoon press conference Monday, Moore County District Attorney Maureen Krueger said the incident was not a random act of violence.

"When can one look into the heart and mind of another person and truly know what they think?" Krueger said. "The information on motive is incomplete at this time. We can share this: This was not a random act of violence. There is only one suspect and he is in custody."

Meanwhile, Officer Justin Garner – who was first on the scene and exchanged gunfire with Stewart – is recovering at home after being hit in the leg during the shootout. McKenzie said Garner’s actions to put an end to the shooting spree were “heroic,” and Garner is expected to recover. He received three wounds in the leg, which McKenzie said will require minor surgery.

McKenzie says Garner, a former Carthage Police Officer of the Year, was the only officer on duty Sunday morning.

"Sunday morning at 10 o'clock? I mentioned many times we're faith-based," he said. "Everyone's at church."

He was the first one to respond to the scene, going into the building alone to confront the gunman.

"I don't know if anyone here can understand what it takes for a single officer to enter a facility of any kind with that situation surrounding him, and to forge ahead and do his job – and that's just phenomenal," said McKenzie.

He said Garner did exactly what he was trained to do.

"If we wait, folks are going to die. And that's the sad reality that we have to train these officers. That's the hardest thing we have to convince them," He said. "You can't wait. You have to go."

Garner shot Stewart once in the chest in a back hallway of the building, according to police.

Michael Cotten was shot outside the nursing home as he tried to visit his aunt. He said he ran into the building and hid until the suspect was arrested (Watch video).

"He looked directly at me. He was very calm," Cotten said. "He didn't appear to be panicked. He was very deliberate and he just began firing."

Cotten said he was lucky to have survived.

"It's really sad because the residents at the nursing home didn't really have an opportunity," Cotten said. "I had an opportunity to run, they didn't."

With the flag at half staff and the Highway Patrol standing guard, family members and friends filtered in and out of the nursing home Monday to check on loved ones (Watch video).

Teresa Faw drove in from Cameron, N.C., to visit her father and stepmother. She said she feels fortunate that they are all right.

"It's sad, it's really sad in there to me because we've lost – not blood family members – but we're like a family in there," Faw said.

Pastor Thomas Herndon at First Baptist Church of Carthage also stopped by Monday to check in on two church members in the facility. During the confusion and chaos Sunday, his church opened its doors, offering comfort to anyone who needed it.

"It's a time of grief and emotion right now -- disbelief at what's taken place," Herndon said. "Each person deals with that differently."