WakeMed shooting Roger Smith | Hospital police officer shot, killed on duty WakeMed Garner Healthplex; suspect charged
GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) — A WakeMed police officer was shot and killed Saturday morning while on duty in Garner.
Garner police officers responded about 9 a.m. to reports of a shooting in the Emergency Department at WakeMed Garner Healthplex in the 400 block of US-70.
In a statement, WakeMed told ABC11 that officer Roger Smith, 59, was working in the hospital’s emergency department lobby when “a struggle ensued” and he was shot. Despite “immediate life-saving efforts” by medical staffers, Smith died from his injuries.
A suspect has been charged, Garner Police said Saturday afternoon. Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner, has been charged with murder in connection with Smith’s death.
“This is a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence,” said Garner Police Chief Chris Adams. “Officer Smith dedicated his career to protecting others, and even in his final moments, he put the safety of others before his own. 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.”
A procession for Officer Smith started at 1:40 p.m. at WakeMed, to New Bern Avenue, and then to the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh.
Wake County Sheriff’s Office
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said a procession for Smith started at 1:40 p.m. and went from WakeMed on New Bern Avenue to the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh. Between 60 and 100 law enforcement and fire vehicles participated.
“Today, our heart is heavy as we join WakeMed and the law enforcement community in mourning the loss of WakeMed Police Officer Roger Smith,” the sheriff’s office said. “Please keep Officer Smith’s family and the entire WakeMed team in your thoughts and prayers. Though he did not wear a WCSO uniform, he will always be a part of our first responder family.”
Smith had worked in public safety for WakeMed for 14 years. Smith, who is from Knightdale, worked with Knightdale Police before joining WakeMed.
“Today, the Knightdale community mourns the loss of a local hero,” Knightdale PD said. “Officer Roger Smith, a long-time Knightdale resident and member of Knightdale PD from 1997 to 2013, was tragically killed in the line of duty. The Knightdale Police Department extends its deepest sympathies to Roger’s family and to our colleagues at the Wake Med Police Department. Roger, we love you and you will be missed.”
“We give an enormous amount of gratitude to the Garner Healthplex Emergency Department staff for their heroic and quick response to this incident,” Garner Healthplex said in a statement. “WakeMed leadership is on-site and working with the State Bureau of Investigation and the Garner Police Department, as is standard with police-related shootings. The Garner Healthplex Emergency Department lobby remains inaccessible at this time.”
The facility is expected to reopen Saturday evening.
“SBI was called in to assist in the shooting involving a police officer,” the SBI said in a statement. “The Garner Police Department has a separate investigation that is centered around the incident and what led up to it.”
Gov. Josh posted on X about the shooting:
“My heart goes out to the family of Officer Roger Smith, who was killed protecting patients and their families. Law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we are forever grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice. Please pray for his family and the entire WakeMed community in their time of need.”
On Saturday afternoon, the Raleigh Police Department released a statement on the shooting, saying it “extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of WakeMed Police Officer Roger Smith, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty this morning.
We stand with our brothers and sisters in blue at WakeMed Police Department during this heartbreaking time,” RPD added. “Please keep Officer Smith’s loved ones and his department in your thoughts and prayers.”
Additional staff and counselors are on-site to support Garner ED and Campus Police teams.
The incident remains under investigation as Garner Police work to piece together what led up to the struggle and shooting.
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