Associated Press
GARNER, N.C. — A police officer was shot and killed during a struggle in the emergency department lobby at a North Carolina hospital Saturday.
The shooting happened around 9 a.m. at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, killing WakeMed Campus Police Officer Roger Smith, 59, according to the Garner Police Department.
Following an investigation, police charged Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner, with murder in connection with Smith’s death, police said.
Garner Police Chief Lorie Adams called the shooting a “heartbreaking and senseless act of violence.”
“Officer Smith dedicated his career to protecting others, and even in his final moments, he put the safety of others before his own,” Adams said. “Our condolences go out to the Smith family, the WakeMed Campus Police Department, and the entire WakeMed staff. The Garner community mourns alongside you today.”
The emergency department lobby was closed, and hospital officials were working with local police and state investigators. Further details about what happened weren’t immediately released.
“Law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we are forever grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement on X.
Garner is a city of about 31,000 people just south of Raleigh in central North Carolina. The WakeMed police department patrols six facilities in the health care system, including the Garner hospital.
The officers are sworn law enforcement who receive all the police training required under state law.
Police1 staff contributed to this article. This aritcle, orginially published on Nov. 8, has been updated with additional information about the shooting.
