NBC17: WakeMed Garner shooting: Officer killed, suspect charged after hospital ER gunfire, officials say

By: Starletta Watson, Rodney Overton, Haylee Kennedy, Mary SmithPosted: Nov 8, 2025 / 09:48 AM ESTUpdated: Nov 9, 2025 / 08:02 AM EST

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A Wake County hospital police officer killed Saturday morning in Garner was a “hero” who likely prevented other deaths during a struggle with a gunman who shot the officer and was later charged with his murder, according to Garner Police and WakeMed officials.

According to law enforcement officials, the shooting occurred around 9 a.m. Saturday at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex on U.S. 70.

A statement from WakeMed said that Officer Roger Smith, 59, of Knightdale, died from his gunshot injuries at WakeMed Raleigh on New Bern Avenue. Authorities said a struggle broke out just before Smith was shot in the emergency department lobby.

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‘Shock’ and ‘sadness’ from friends

Steven Moore was a childhood friend of Roger Smith, the two graduating together from Garner Senior High School. The school is now known as Garner Magnet High School.

“It’s just been the whole gamut of shock and disbelief, sadness. Just to think something like that happened in our backyard. You just never think about it,” Moore said.

Friends and support organizations said they were heartbroken over the loss.

“It was just a gut punch, like it always is. You always hope and pray that the officer who is injured in the line of duty is going to pull through, and unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen,” said Lindsay LiCausi, founder of Back the Blue NC.

CBS 17 is working to learn what led up to the struggle between Smith and Martin, while Back the Blue, a non-profit dedicated to helping law enforcement families, is gathering support for Smith’s family.

The group has created a GoFundMe to assist Smith’s family.

“I found out that he was taking care of his elderly mother, and so now my concern is who is going to take care of her and who is going to help step up and support his family now that he is gone,” LiCausi said.

Moore described Smith as the perfect example of what a law enforcement officer should be.

“To me, when I knew him was the epitome of law enforcement. He was compassionate, caring; he wasn’t out here to make a name for himself. He just wanted to do a job and keep the community safe,” Moore said.

Garner Police Statement: Suspect Charged in Death of WakeMed Campus Police Officer

The Garner Police Department has charged an individual in connection with the shooting death of WakeMed Campus Police Officer Roger Smith, which occurred on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex located off U.S. Highway 70.

At approximately 9:00 a.m., officers with the Garner Police Department responded to a report of a shooting inside the emergency department lobby. Upon arrival, officers found Officer Smith, 59, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by medical staff and first responders, Officer Smith succumbed to his injuries.

Following an extensive investigation and consulting with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office, the suspect, Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner, NC, has been charged with murder in connection with Officer Smith’s death.

Medical personnel at the scene described Officer Smith as a hero whose actions likely prevented further loss of life. His courage and selfless service exemplified the highest ideals of law enforcement.

“This is a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence,” said Garner Police Chief 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.”

Garner Police detectives continue to work closely with the WakeMed Campus Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Wake County District Attorney’s Office to ensure a thorough review of all evidence in this case.

Additional information will be released as the investigation allows.

License plate reader leads Garner PD to stolen vehicle; juvenile robbery suspects taken into custody

Three juvenile robbery suspects are in custody after a Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reading (ALPR) camera led Garner Police to a stolen vehicle.

On Tuesday, a Flock Safety ALPR camera alerted Garner Police to a stolen vehicle on US 70. A Garner police officer followed the car from US 70 onto I-40 as he waited for additional backup officers to arrive.

When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver accelerated and led police on a chase through Johnston County.

Near the Johnston-Wayne County line, officers with the Princeton Police Department deployed stop sticks to deflate the tires on the stolen vehicle.

The three juvenile occupants jumped from the car and ran, but were eventually taken into custody by the Raleigh Police Department who connected them to multiple armed robberies.

Flock Safety ALPR cameras help law enforcement investigate crime by providing objective evidence that can be transformed into actionable leads. They capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces. 

To proactively prevent crime from occurring, the cameras will send a real-time alert to law enforcement when a stolen car or known wanted felony suspect vehicle from a state or national crime database enters the jurisdiction. They can also send real-time alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person in an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected.

Flock Safety works with over 1,000 law enforcement agencies to solve hundreds of crimes every day.

Release courtesy Flock Safety