Damon Franklin Smith, a 29-year-old U.S. Army veteran serving with the Oakboro Police Department for one year, was killed on April 15, 1996, in Oakboro, North Carolina. He and the department’s chief were responding to a domestic disturbance after a nine-year-old girl reported her father was threatening the child’s mother with a knife. Upon arrival the officers were ambushed from a front window by the front door. Officer Smith was shot once in the chest with a .30-.30 rifle; the bullet penetrated his vest. The chief was also shot but returned fire and wounded the suspect.

The suspect was later apprehended and ultimately pled guilty to first-degree murder and received life without parole; he also received additional time for wounding the police chief. In October 2004 the suspect lost a final bid to remain in a state mental hospital. Officer Smith was survived by his wife, a three-year-old son, his parents, and a sister. His badge number was retired at the end of his funeral service and his memory has been honored with an award presented in his name to exemplary students in law enforcement training programs.

Are there readers who remember Officer Smith or who can share memories of Oakboro in 1996 that might add context to this case?