Police Officer Robert Louis Smith
Charlotte Police Department
North Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, January 15, 1987

Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, January 15, 1987
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Officer Smith was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a report of a man firing a gun into a condo complex at 0110 hours. During the search for the suspect Officer Smith located him and shined his flashlight on him. When he did this the suspect opened fire with a rifle, striking Officer Smith four times. Other officers responded to the sound of the gun shots and returned fire, wounding the suspect. The man was taken into custody and sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Smith had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.