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Hospital Tragedy: 3 Critical Updates in the Deadly Shooting of Veteran Officer
Table of Contents – Hospital Tragedy
Hospital Attack: Veteran Officer Killed, Suspect Charged with Murder in WakeMed Shooting
A devastating shooting at a WakeMed hospital in Garner claims the life of veteran police officer Roger Smith. Get the latest on the suspect, the investigation, and the community’s mourning.
Hospital Attack: Veteran Officer Killed, Suspect Charged with Murder in WakeMed Shooting
GARNER, N.C. – A sense of profound loss hangs over the WakeMed community after a devastating shooting inside a hospital lobby claimed the life of a dedicated police officer. The incident, which unfolded Saturday morning at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex on US-70, has been described by authorities as a “heartbreaking and senseless act of violence.”
The Garner Police Department has released further details, revealing a complex and tragic altercation that resulted in two men being shot.
🚨 DEVASTATING: Veteran Officer Roger Smith, a 14-year protector of WakeMed Hospital, was killed in a senseless shooting in the Garner facility lobby.
Officer Roger Smith: A Protector Succumbs to Injuries
The victim has been identified as Officer Roger Smith, a 59-year-old veteran of law enforcement. According to officials, Smith was on duty in the hospital lobby when the shooting occurred. Despite immediate and extensive life-saving efforts performed by medical staff right there in the facility he was sworn to protect, Officer Smith tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Smith was a 14-year veteran of WakeMed’s public safety team and a former officer with the Knightdale Police Department. He is being remembered as a dedicated public servant whose primary focus was always the safety and well-being of others.
“This is a devastating loss for his family, for his WakeMed family, and for our entire community,” a hospital spokesperson stated.
The Suspect: Charged and in Custody
The Garner Police Department has identified the suspect as Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner. In a critical update, police revealed that Martin was also shot during the altercation. He is currently in custody under medical supervision at an undisclosed location. WakeMed has stated it cannot release information on his condition due to patient privacy laws.
Martin has been formally charged with murder in connection with Officer Smith’s death. Authorities have confirmed that upon his release from medical care, he will be transferred to the Wake County Detention Center.
A Community in Mourning and an Ongoing Investigation
The law enforcement community responded with a powerful and moving tribute to Officer Smith. A procession involving an estimated 60 to 100 law enforcement and fire vehicles escorted his body from WakeMed to the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh—a somber salute to a fallen brother.
Garner Police Chief Chris Adams expressed the collective grief, solidifying the community’s sentiment about the tragic event.
The investigation into the precise sequence of events that led to the shooting is ongoing. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has been called in to assist the Garner Police Department in piecing together the moments that culminated in this hospital tragedy. The focus remains on understanding the motive and the circumstances of the altercation that led to such a profound loss.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising urgent questions about safety in public spaces and highlighting the ever-present dangers faced by law enforcement officers, even within the walls of a healing environment like a hospital.