VA officials on Wednesday confirmed that the man shot and killed this week by the VA police force at a veteran’s hospital in Decatur was a veteran who had been receiving care at the facility.
The VA has declined to offer many details about the incident surrounding the veteran’s death at the hospital’s emergency room. The man apparently was displaying suicidal ideations and had pulled out a knife, threatening to harm himself, according to a release by the GBI, which is investigating the incident.
“A fatal shooting occurred on campus last night that is currently under investigation,” the VA said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone impacted.”
The VA on Tuesday would not respond to an AJC reporter’s questions about whether the person shot was a veteran. On Wednesday, the agency confirmed the person was, in fact, a veteran when the AJC followed-up with additional questions.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday confirmed the agency is investigating the case. The GBI said John Robert Smith, a 58-year-old from Decatur, arrived at the hospital Monday evening and staff brought him into the emergency room. Once inside the emergency room, Smith pulled out a knife and threatened to harm himself, according to the GBI. A VA spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that Smith was a veteran who had been receiving care at the hospital.
VA police officers responded to the ER, and tried to get Smith to drop the knife, according to the GBI. He refused, and advanced towards a staff member with the knife in hand. That’s when an officer shot Smith, who was then pronounced dead on the scene by medical staff.
GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the matter at the request of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Police. Smith’s body will be taken to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
When the GBI investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review.
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