Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Robert 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 32-year-old man was taken into custody and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Smith had served with the Charlotte Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-6DC15814- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Smith gave the Charlotte Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Robert Louis Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Charlotte Police Department, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Louis Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Louis Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Louis Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Louis Smith was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Charlotte Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
