Police perplexed by Mooresville murder

MOORESVILLE, NC (WBTV) - Police are still trying to find the person who murdered a man inside a Mooresville home this week.

The shooting happened early Tuesday morning in the Gabriel Estates subdivision.

Angel Stewart said someone entered her home and shot her husband, Matthew.  Two of the couple's three children were inside the home during the shooting. The oldest was spending the night at a friend's house.

She ran from the home with her 2-year-old on one arm and she was allegedly shot in the other arm during the incident.  She called for help from a neighbor's home.

"He would've killed the baby if God hadn't had not saved this little tiny baby, that was in the bed with them," said Brenda Haire, Angel Stewart's mother.

"She came to the door, said she'd been shot call 911, her husband man was struggling with the intruder," said neighbor Mike Lawson.

Haire said when police entered the couple's home, they found the husband's body in the upstair's bathroom and their 6-year-old daughter still asleep.  He died at the scene.

WBTV spoke with Mooresville Police Captain Phil Blocker Wednesday morning.  He said the crime scene is still being processed and the SBI is assisting.   Blocker also said he knew the family personally and that Matthew Stewart was "a good guy."

Police say there have not been any recent reports of break-ins in the neighborhood.

The police department has ramped up patrols in the neighborhood since the murder happened. Many of the neighbors we spoke to Tuesday afternoon said they are still on edge.

"We ask the community if anybody knows anything that can catch this cold-blooded murderer that shot and killed Matt Stewart,  for God's sake turn him in," said Haire.

The police chief told WBTV this is a very strange case and his detectives are putting all of their resources into trying to find the killer.

If you live in the neighborhood and saw anything suspicious late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, call the Mooresville Police Department at 704-664-3311.