A fatal confrontation unfolded at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, where 58-year-old John Robert Smith was shot and killed by a VA police officer after brandishing a knife, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations reported. Smith, a Decatur resident, had been taken into the facility on Jan. 29 for exhibiting suicidal thoughts, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Witnesses described a tense scene inside the hospital's emergency room where Smith, having been admitted for help, drew a hefty blade and threatened self-harm, this account came as Eric Sherrod, present during the incident recounted "There was like 8 officers, one officer has a gun drawn out – maybe more, but I seen the one – and there was a guy wielding a huge knife," he told FOX 5 Atlanta. Despite efforts to de-escalate, Smith is said to have refused to disarm and lunged at a staff member prompting an officer to fire multiple rounds, upon which Sherrod added, "They just start shooting about 6 to eight shots, maybe. Pop, pop, pop, pop. And I seen the gun, smoke coming from the gun, and I'm like, ‘Oh my god, oh my god.’"
The VA medical center confirmed the shooting but offered no further comment as the investigation is ongoing, stating, "A fatal shooting occurred on campus last night that is currently under investigation. We extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone impacted," it was mentioned in their statement to FOX 5 Atlanta. Smith's autopsy will be handled by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.
While the GBI undertakes an independent inquiry into the details of the shooting, their findings will eventually reach the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office for further examination, as confirmed by 11Alive, it is not known if Smith was a veteran, the GBI mentioned no officers were injured during the altercation with Smith, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical staff.
The VA medical center specializes in primary care and various health services, and while this incident marks a violent episode in its history, the full circumstances surrounding Smith's death await clarification as investigations by the GBI proceed.
