A police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty in the emergency department lobby of a North Carolina hospital on Saturday, authorities said.
WakeMed Campus Police Officer Roger Smith, 59, was working at WakeMed Garner Healthplex in Garner, 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, outside of Raleigh, authorities said.
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Garner police said “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 deepest condolences go out to the Smith family, the WakeMed Campus Police Department, and the entire WakeMed staff.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein spoke out about 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 will always be grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice,” the governor wrote. “Please pray for his family and the entire WakeMed community in their time of need.”
