Garner, NC — A 29-year-old suspect has been charged with murder after the fatal shooting of Officer Roger Smith, who was killed while on duty inside the emergency room of a North Carolina hospital on Saturday morning.
According to authorities, Smith, 59, was shot and killed around 9 a.m. during a struggle inside the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, located in the town of Garner, just south of Raleigh.
Officer Killed During Struggle Inside Hospital
WakeMed Health & Hospitals confirmed the tragic event in a statement, describing a “struggle” that led to the shooting inside the hospital’s emergency department. Responding officers quickly secured the scene as hospital staff rushed to provide aid to the wounded officer.
Garner Police Capt. David Casteline said that the suspect, Benji Martin Jr., 29, was identified and later charged with murder. Martin, who is also from Garner, suffered injuries “consistent with a gunshot wound sustained during the struggle inside the hospital lobby.”
“He is currently in custody and under medical supervision,” Casteline said, noting that Martin will be transferred to the Wake County Detention Center once released from the hospital.
Authorities stated that Smith was shot once, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Officer Remembered as a Hero
Police officials and state leaders have hailed Officer Smith as a hero whose quick actions may have saved lives during the violent encounter.
“Medical personnel at the scene described Officer Smith as a hero whose actions likely prevented further loss of life,” Capt. Casteline said. “His courage and selfless service exemplified the highest ideals of law enforcement.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein also paid tribute to the fallen officer, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“My heart goes out to the family of Officer Roger Smith, who was killed protecting patients and their families.”
Garner Police Chief Chris Adams called Smith’s death “a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence” and expressed deep gratitude to WakeMed staff for their immediate response.
Hospital and Community Respond
WakeMed officials said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues. The hospital praised its emergency department staff for acting heroically in the moments after the shooting.
“Our thoughts and prayers are now with the Smith family as they come to learn of this tragic event,” the health group said in a statement. “We give an enormous amount of gratitude to the Garner Healthplex Emergency Department staff for their heroic and quick response to this incident.”
The WakeMed Garner Healthplex is located about five miles south of Raleigh, within North Carolina’s Research Triangle region — home to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
According to NBC News, investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deadly encounter, and officials have not yet released further details about what prompted the struggle.
A Community in Mourning
Residents in Garner and the broader Raleigh area have been leaving flowers and messages of support outside the police department in honor of Officer Smith. Community leaders say his dedication and bravery will be remembered as a testament to his decades of service.
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