WakeMed Officer Killed in Shooting at Garner Hospital Emergency Department
Garner, N.C. – A WakeMed Campus Police officer was fatally shot Saturday morning during an altercation in the emergency department lobby of WakeMed Garner Healthplex. The officer has been identified as Roger Smith.
The shooting occurred around 9:00 a.m., according to a statement released by WakeMed. Authorities have taken a “person of interest” into custody in connection with the incident, the garner Police Department confirmed.
The emergency department lobby has been temporarily closed as law enforcement officials, alongside state investigators, work to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Details regarding the events leading up to the shooting remain limited at this time.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein expressed his condolences and gratitude for Officer Smith’s service, stating via X (formerly Twitter), “Law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we are forever grateful for Officer Smith’s sacrifice.”
WakeMed police officers are fully sworn law enforcement personnel, receiving the same comprehensive training mandated by state law. The department is responsible for providing security across six facilities within the WakeMed health system, including the Garner hospital.
Garner, North Carolina, a city of approximately 31,000 residents located south of Raleigh, is where the incident took place.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details becomes available.
(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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