The man suspected of shooting and killing a WakeMed Garner Healthplex police officer remains in the hospital.

Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner, is charged with the murder of officer Roger Smith, who died on Saturday at the age of 59.

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Authorities will take Martin to the Wake County Detention Center when he's released from the hospital.

On Monday, WRAL News asked the Garner Police Department about what they described as a "struggle" between Smith and Martin that left Smith dead and Martin shot. Police did not answer WRAL News’ questions as of Monday evening.

Push to improve safety at NC hospitals

“The emergency room is probably the most dangerous place in the hospital,” said state Rep. Donny Lambeth, Forsyth-R.

Lambeth has pushed for better security in emergency departments across the state. He said strides have been made in larger hospitals and in main areas, but there is still work to be done.

“There are a lot of things that have been done in those areas to protect the staff and to protect citizens that are visiting and to protect the patients, but I think what this says is it's time to look at the emergency room, where there's such an inflow and outflow of people in and out constantly,” Lambeth said.

WRAL News asked WakeMed what security protocols are in place at its hospitals.

In a statement a spokesperson said they can’t provide specifics but said, “WakeMed Campus Police provides extensive coverage, performing regular, purposeful rounds throughout our hospitals, healthplexes, public spaces and entrances to assess security and respond to any type of security-related situations."

Fellow officer mourns loss of Roger Smith, ECU classmate of suspect shares her memories 

Former WakeMed officer reflects on 'tough job' of first responders after fatal shooting

Bill Goodwin, who said he was the first certified officer in the WakeMed system in the late 1980s and early 1990s, spoke with WRAL News on Monday to discuss the shooting.

"It's a tough job being a first responder," he said. "It's just a tough job all around. It doesn't matter where you're at."

Goodwin mentioned how situational awareness is necessary to do the job. He said how he did not carry a gun when he worked as an officer at WakeMed, instead carrying pepper spray, a baton and handcuffs.

"Every officer wants to go home at night to their family," Goodwin said. "It affects me in a lot of ways anytime an officer is shot or hurt or killed in the line of duty.

"But, being there at WakeMed, you usually don't hear things like that."

Goodwin said violence can happen at any time. 

On Monday, WRAL News spoke with Sarah Davis, who said she and Martin were dance majors together at East Carolina University.

I was just kind of in shock, and I was like, 'That can't be the Benji that I know,'" Davis said. "It must be someone else with the same name in the same area. It just kind of seemed crazy and completely out of his character."