Veteran's family demands bodycam footage of fatal shooting at VA hospital

DEKALB COUNTY, Georgia. – The family of a veteran shot by a police officer at the Atlanta VA Medical Center is demanding answers from police.

John Robert Smith Jr. was shot more than a dozen times during the confrontation with police on January 29.

According to the GBI, 58-year-old John Robert Smith of Decatur was exhibiting suicidal thoughts when he arrived at the hospital that evening.

Hospital staff took Smith to the emergency room for help, where he allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened to hurt himself.

A witness told FOX 5 he saw at least one police officer with a gun drawn and Smith with a “huge knife” in his hand.

According to authorities, Smith refused to put down the weapon and approached an employee. That's when officers began shooting.

“They just started firing about six to eight shots. Bang, bang, bang, bang. And I saw the gun with smoke coming out of it and I just thought, 'Oh my God, oh my God,'” said witness Eric Sherrod.

Smith was shot 13 times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, which will be forwarded to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office for review.

Smith's family says he was a veteran who had a mental health problem and needed help.

“He came here to get help. Why didn't he get help? No one could talk to him?” said Smith's 80-year-old mother, Onnie Smith. “I know there should be someone in this hospital who can talk to patients who are out of control or in trouble. Someone should have been there. No one was there for him.”

They are demanding that DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston release bodycam video of the incident.

The family plans to hold a press conference outside the DeKalb County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.

FOX 5's Kim Leoffler contributed to this report.

This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).