A police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty in a North Carolina hospital’s emergency department lobby on Saturday, authorities said.
WakeMed campus police officer Roger Smith, 59, was working at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex in Garner, just outside of Raleigh, when he was shot around 9 a.m., according to Garner police.
Benji Martin Jr., a 29-year-old Garner resident, has been charged with murder, police said.
The officer was shot at WakeMed in Garner, just outside of Raleigh, authorities said.
Google Maps Street View
Garner police said that “medical personnel at the scene described Officer Smith as a hero whose actions likely prevented further loss of life.”
“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 Gov. Josh Stein spoke out on the shooting, saying on social media that Smith was “protecting patients and their families” when he was killed.
“Law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we are forever grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice,” the governor wrote. “Please pray for his family and the entire WakeMed community in their time of need.”
Source: abc news
