WakeMed Officer Killed in Garner Hospital Lobby, Community Mourns
A WakeMed campus police officer, Roger Smith, was shot and killed Saturday morning in the emergency department lobby at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, authorities say. The incident, which left a person of interest hospitalized and now charged with murder, has raised urgent questions about hospital safety, emergency response, and support for health care workers across Wake County.
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A WakeMed campus police officer identified as Roger Smith died after being shot Saturday morning inside the emergency department lobby at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, regional authorities confirmed. The shooting occurred during a "struggle." A person of interest, later identified as Benji Martin Jr. of Garner, was also shot during the altercation and underwent surgery. Police have charged Martin with murder. He remains under medical supervision and will be transferred to the Wake County Detention Center once he is released from the hospital.
Local and state law enforcement agencies are leading the investigation. Garner Police Department is the primary investigative agency and is working with the State Bureau of Investigation. A procession carried the body from WakeMed to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as officials continued to process the scene and gather evidence.
Smith was a longtime member of the WakeMed police force with more than a decade of service, and he had prior service with the Knightdale Police Department. His death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from Governor Josh Stein and many local law enforcement partners. Hospital staff, first responders, and community members are grappling with the sudden loss of a colleague, family member, and neighbor.
The shooting at a hospital lobby underscores broader public health and safety concerns in Wake County. Emergency departments are critical access points for people in crisis, and staff often encounter patients who are experiencing mental health emergencies, substance use problems, or unstable behavior. The presence of a fatal shooting in an emergency department raises questions about security measures, training and resources for deescalation, and coordination between health care systems and law enforcement when responding to acute incidents.
Wake County residents have immediate reasons to worry about safety in public health settings and the toll such incidents take on frontline workers. Health care facilities must balance open access for patients and families with safeguards to protect staff and the public. Community leaders and health systems will likely face renewed pressure to review protocols, invest in hospital security, expand crisis intervention resources, and strengthen support for clinicians and officers who respond to violent events.
Investigators urge anyone with information to contact Garner Police Department as the case moves forward. WRAL and other outlets continue to update coverage as authorities from Garner and the State Bureau of Investigation release more details. For families, colleagues, and patients affected by the shooting, the immediate needs include grief support, counseling, and clear communication from officials as the community processes the loss and seeks measures to prevent future tragedies.
