The officer will not be charged in the shooting death of a veteran at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, the district attorney says

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An officer who shot and killed a veteran at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in January will not face charges, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Sherry Boston ruled that the officer’s use of force against 58-year-old John Smith Jr., who attacked a hospital employee with a knife, was “justified.”

“Mr. “Smith’s death is a painful reminder of the struggles our veterans face, even long after their service has officially ended,” Boston said in a statement. “We mourn with his family and extend our deepest condolences .”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Autopsy report reveals new information in the death of a veteran shot by police at the DeKalb VA Hospital

On Jan. 29, Smith went to the VA hospital and said he had thoughts about hurting himself or someone else. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he pulled out a knife when he was brought in.

Several VA Police Department officers tried to get him to drop the knife, but Smith followed a hospital worker into a room and charged forward with the weapon, prosecutors said. The officer then shot Smith.

Smith was shot 13 times, his autopsy report is detailed. According to a news release from Justice 4 Veterans, a veterans advocacy group, his family disagrees with the decision to forgo prosecution.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Atlanta, Virginia hospital installs weapon detection system after veteran was killed with knife in emergency room

“Mr. Smith’s mother and her family deserve answers as to why he was killed in the hospital where he should have been helped!” the press release states.

After the fatal shooting, the VA hospital in Decatur installed gun detection systems at three entrances.

“The weapon detection system, limited entry points and increased police rounds are measures that work together to deter crime, maintain order and improve the psychological and physical safety of our veteran patients, employees and guests,” a VA spokesperson said in a statement.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.