Robert W. Smith reportedly murdered 24-year-old police officer Tyler Stewart outside his home in Flagstaff, Arizona, which was captured on a body cam, before taking his own life.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2014, Stewart was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 800 block of West Clay Avenue after a 911 call was made about a domestic disturbance, according to AZ Central.
When Stewart arrived on the scene, he saw Smith at the front door.
He asked if he could speak with him outside, but before Smith obliged, he walked to a back bedroom, which was out of the officer’s view.
When he returned, his hands were inside the pockets of his jacket.
Once outside, Stewart asked if he had any weapons on his person, and Smith said, “No, sir, I’m just cold.”
As Smith was explaining why his girlfriend contacted the Flagstaff Police Department for help, Stewart interjected.
He asked, “Do you mind if I pat down your pockets real quick? You don’t have anything in there?”
For the second time, Smith told the officer that he didn’t have any weapons in his pockets, only his “smokes.” And it was then that he reportedly pulled out a concealed .22 caliber gun and fired six shots.
Stewart was struck five times, including once in the face. As he was down on the ground near his patrol car, he was able to call for help.
Emergency first responders arrived and subsequently transported Stewart to Flagstaff Medical Center in critical condition.
Stewart later died from his injuries.
Investigators stated that after Smith shot and killed Stewart, he took the officer’s gun and committed suicide nearby.
He was 28.
The shooting was captured on Tyler Stewart’s body cam.
Stewart had been working with the Flagstaff Police Department for less than one year before he was killed in the line of duty, according to the AZ Daily Sun.
Following Stewart’s death, Chief Kevin Treadway released the following statement:
“This is an enormous tragedy for our department and the family of our officer. We are a very close-knit organization, and know that all members of the Flagstaff Police Department are grieving at this time.”
“With that being said, all of the men and women of the Flagstaff Police Department extend our prayers and condolences to the family of our Officer Tyler Stewart.”
In January 2015, Stewart was laid to rest.