Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

11:58 p.m. • 5-25-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Sun: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 75° F
  • Mon: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 80° F
  • Tue: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 85° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2007-04-05 20:36:00
Updated: 2007-04-06 21:55:03

Identity Known of Man Who Shot Self in Front of VA Hospital


Suicide outside Fayetteville VA Medical Center
Suicide outside Fayetteville VA Medical Center
print friendly

WRAL has learned the identity of a man who committed suicide in front of Fayetteville's VA hospital earlier this week.

Harold J. Nealey, 59, of Chadbourne, N.C., drove onto the property of the VA Medical Center grounds, got out of his pickup truck and shot himself in the chest on Tuesday.

Hospital staff refuse to say if Nealey was a patient there, but funeral directors confirm he was a veteran.

Nealey, who went by the nickname "Rusty," leaves behind two sons, four brothers and two sisters.


14 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 14 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
God bless his family and God bless him! There "has" to be a special place in heaven for our soldiers.

I do not know the man. I didn't go to Viet Nam. I have read many books on the subject. If this man faced combat he was a hero. I have thought of him often since reading of his death. Wondering what he did in the war, what his experiences were. I hope his soul has found peace. I hope the good Lord comforts the family he left behind. To those of us who have never served we owe a great debt to those who have, as well as their families, particularly the ones that were in combat.

To Sweetpea, The RUMORS which I spoke of were Rusty's deeds in a land he had killed others and how he regretted it. Anything after our co-worker time is unknown to me. I was unaware of the facts which you have stated. I say again, I Will Miss My Friend!

let me clarify- "rumors" sweetpea, because that is what YOU referred to them as.

sweetpea- what in the world are you thinking?!!! you apparently must NOT be thinking AT ALL. why you would come on this forum and post all those "rumors" that you have HEARD I cannot imagine. what awful taste you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! have you no repsect for the deceasd or his family. keep your heard rumors to yourself and stop being sooo ignorant!

View Comments VIEW ALL 14 COMMENTS