In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, a police officer from Garner, North Carolina, was reportedly shot and killed while on duty at the WakeMed hospital in Garner.
Authorities received a call around 9 a.m. about a shooting incident that occurred at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, located in the 400 block of US-70.
Officer Roger Smith, aged 59, was on duty in the hospital’s emergency department lobby when an altercation broke out, according to reports from ABC 11.
During this confrontation, it is alleged that Benji Martin Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Garner, shot Officer Smith.
Despite the medical team’s immediate efforts to save his life, Officer Smith unfortunately died from his injuries, as confirmed by a WakeMed statement provided to ABC 11.
The police have since taken Martin Jr. into custody and charged him with murder.
Garner Police Captain David Casteline said Smith “died trying to save the lives of the workers here at WakeMed and other people that were in the lobby, according to The News & Observer.
“There’s a lot of details involved. Detectives are trying to piece all that together. They’ve interviewed witnesses. They’ve reviewed video surveillance, and they’re still trying to piece that together to see what actually happened,” Casteline said.
Meanwhile, there has been an outpouring of condolences and statements about Smith’s heroism.
“Officer Smith dedicated his career to protecting others, and even in his final moments, he put the safety of others before his own,” Garner police chief Chris Adams said in a statement.
“Our condolences go out to the Smith family, the WakeMed Campus Police Department, and the entire WakeMed staff.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein asked for prayers for the families and stated that Smith “was killed protecting patients and their families.”
Stein continued by expressing thankfulness to all officers.
“Law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we are forever grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice.”
The Greensboro Police Department posted condolences: “To our brothers and sisters at the WakeMed Police Department, we send our sincere condolences on the heartbreaking loss of Officer Roger Smith, who was killed in the line of duty this morning.”
The Raleigh Police Department also “extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of WakeMed Police Officer Roger Smith.”
After the shooting, WakeMed spokesperson Debbie Laughery stated the patients at WakeMed were taken by ambulances to other facilities, according to The News & Observer.
WakeMed was temporarily closed after the tragedy but has since reopened.
[Feature Photo via Garner police]
