PHOTOS: Benji Martin Jr. of Garner, North Carolina, Who Fatally Shot WakeMed Officer Roger Smith, Was Seeking Mental Health Treatment Before the Tragedy

Friends of Benji Martin Jr., the 29-year-old Garner, North Carolina man accused of fatally shooting WakeMed Garner Healthplex police officer Roger Smith, say he was in the middle of a severe mental health crisis and had come to the hospital for help when the tragic encounter occurred.

According to Garner Police, the incident happened around 9 a.m. Saturday at WakeMed Garner Healthplex on U.S. 70. Officer Roger Smith, 59, was responding to a disturbance involving Martin when the two became involved in a struggle. Shots were fired, and both men were struck. Smith died from his injuries, while Martin was rushed into surgery and remained hospitalized for several hours afterward, friends told The News & Observer.

Those close to Martin say the days leading up to the shooting had been filled with emotional strain and heartbreak. His best friend, Sam Hadi, said Martin had been “under enormous pressure,” juggling family tragedy and personal loss. His grandmother in South Carolina was gravely ill, and Martin had been traveling back and forth to see her. Meanwhile, his fiancée — who was pregnant with twins — had lost one baby the previous week and, heartbreakingly, lost the second child on the same day as the shooting while Martin was in surgery. “He was supposed to see her that day,” Hadi said. “The stress broke him.”

Benji Martin Jr

Martin had arrived at the hospital with two friends who helped check him in and tried to calm him as he suffered what they described as a mental breakdown. When staff called for assistance, Officer Smith — a longtime hospital police officer — responded to the call. During what police described as a “struggle,” Martin allegedly managed to gain control of Smith’s firearm, resulting in gunfire. Authorities have not yet released full details about the moments leading up to the shooting.

Hadi told the News & Observer that Martin never threatened or harmed anyone before the shots were fired. “Benji hurt nobody. He didn’t physically touch the nurses, and when the video comes out, you’re going to see that,” he said, referring to expected security and body camera footage.

Friends and former classmates have since come forward, describing Martin as a gentle, compassionate, and artistic soul. A graduate of East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance in 2019, he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and specialized in dance performance. Fellow dancer Rachel Petherbridge said she couldn’t reconcile the man she knew with the incident being reported. “He’s just the kindest, most gentle human being,” she said. “The fact that this has happened is beyond belief. I can’t, in good conscience, believe this is the full story.”

WakeMed Officer Roger Smith

A GoFundMe campaign initially launched to support Martin was later removed, as platform rules prohibit fundraising for individuals charged with felony crimes. Authorities said that once Martin is released from the hospital, he will be officially charged with first-degree murder. Records show Martin has no prior criminal history apart from a recent traffic citation for driving with an expired license.

Officer Roger Smith was remembered as a devoted father, grandfather, and public servant. An obituary described him as a man who dedicated his life to protecting others — serving 16 years with the Knightdale Police Department before joining WakeMed’s police unit, where he worked for 14 years. He also volunteered for two decades with the Garner Fire Department. Knightdale Police Chief Lawrence Capps said Smith left “a warm and lasting impression on everyone who knew him.”

Garner Police have said more details about the shooting will be released this week. Officer Smith’s funeral is scheduled for Monday, November 17, in Raleigh.