Sammy Stewart was in CAMC Memorial Hospital's ICU unit Saturday. Friends say he was pretty ill, but getting better.

Then, police say his estranged wife showed up with a gun.

Monday, Police release the 911 tapes painting a grim picture of what happened.

Detectives tell 13News Sammy's estranged wife, Rhonfa Stewart, got into an argument earlier in the day with Sammy. Police say she left the hospital and returned with a gun. Police say Sammy died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Rhonda is now being charged with first degree murder.

Lifelong friend Charlie Keenan said Sammy was a hard worker who would do anything for anybody.

"Sammy was a great person, my personal opinion," Keenan said. "A great person. He was very kind in my opinion of him he did a lot of things to help a lot of people so I'm just dumbfounded why it happend."

Kennan says he spoke with Sammy's nurse just hours before he was fatally shot, and the nurse told him they had just removed his respirator and he was feeling better.

He says Sammy was hoping to come home soon.

13News did speak with Sammy's brother's family Monday afternoon.

They said they do not want to comment, that their loss is too great to be discussed in the media.

Rhonda Stewart also denied our request for an interview.