Mother: Army veteran son was having a breakdown, shot by Granville Co. deputy after firing shotgun

"The police was called due to a mental health break and they knew, [Granville County Sheriff's Department] knew, his situation. They knew he had a mental illness," she said.

When deputies arrived, they could not immediately find Smith. As they searched for him and attempted to secure the scene, officials said Smith fired at one of the deputies. The deputy then shot Smith.

Smith-Ragland said she left her home to go to the magistrate's office to get an involuntary commitment order for Smith, but while she was doing that, someone on her street called her and said they heard shots being fired.

"When I got [back] here, I saw an ambulance pulling off with him," she said.

Smith-Ragland said deputies told her that her son had come out of the woods, had a shotgun and was trying to get back into the house. Smith turned and fired the shotgun at officers and deputies returned fire, Smith-Ragland said.

"I get a call from the doctor saying that they've used all the blood in the hospital and that I need to get there immediately," said Smith-Ragland.

Smith died from his injuries at Duke University Medical Center.

The Granville Sheriff's Office said the deputy, whose name has not been released, was not injured in the shooting, and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Smith-Ragland said this was the second time she had to call Granville County Sheriff's Office to help with her son since he left the Army in April 2020.

"He saw a lot of things in the military — a lot of death. He had a mental illness after his four year stint in the military," said Smith-Ragland.

Smith had been stationed at Fort Drum in New York prior to leaving the military.

"I just don't understand why he wasn't debriefed or helped before he came home, and then I've talked to [Veteran's Affairs] and they're trying to help him but it just wasn't enough and it wasn't soon enough," said Smith-Ragland.

Ragland-Smith said she wants people to know that mental health issues after serving in the military are very real.

"[I'm] not doing well at all. I have to bury my only child. I'm not doing well," she said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, which is typical for shootings involving law enforcement.