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John Robert Smith

Gender : Male

Age : 58

Race : Black

Date : 01/30/2024

Location : Veterans Affairs hospital

City : Decatur

County : Decatur

State : Georgia

Agency : US Department of Veterans' Affairs

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police inside of hospital during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On January 29, 2024, at approximately 8:00 PM, 58-year-old John Robert Smith of Decatur, Georgia, arrived at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, exhibiting suicidal ideations. Hospital staff escorted Smith to the emergency room for assistance. While in the ER, Smith produced a knife and threatened to harm himself. VA police officers responded to the ER. Smith allegedly refused to drop the knife. Police allege that Smith advanced toward a staff member while still holding the knife. An officer fired shots, fatally wounding Smith. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Smith had a known history of mental health struggles and had sought help at the facility.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an independent investigation into the incident.
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Number of Casualties During This Police Encounter: 1 fatality
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Date of Last Update: December 3, 2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-01-30/gbi-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-dekalb-county-ga
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/man-with-knife-shot-by-officer-at-va-medical-center-in-decatur
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/man-shot-killed-by-officers-after-showing-up-va-hospital-with-knife-gbi-says/LPMFK6ECUVH2LCKDJDP3OD2OLQ/
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/mother-of-army-veteran-killed-by-police/85-f8eac710-f4a2-4187-99ab-3c5807043263
https://www.wsbradio.com/news/local/man-shot-killed-by-officer-after-showing-up-va-hospital-with-knife-gbi-says/5WGSNDTFVVGBLMDZLWHGDZAI2Q/
https://www.thegeorgiagazette.com/featured/man-holding-knife-at-va-hospital-fatally-shot-by-police-gbi-says/
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/he-didnt-deserve-die-like-that-family-upset-officer-wont-be-charged-va-hospital-shooting/HEREWP6H7RG3HFK7KDMONOGZ5I/
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/family-of-veteran-shot-killed-dekalb-hospital-speaks/85-1c0c3424-9b08-4cb2-b162-3e05e69c9449