Jody Carl Smith, a 25-year-old male Public Safety Officer with Georgia Southwestern State University, died on December 8, 2016, from a gunshot wound sustained in the line of duty a day earlier. The incident that led to his death began when he responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment complex near the university campus in Americus, Georgia, to back up his best friend, Americus Police Officer Nicholas Smarr.
Upon their arrival, the officers were informed that the suspect, 32-year-old Minquell Lembrick, who had an active felony warrant, was still inside the apartment. As the officers attempted to make contact, Lembrick fled from the rear of the building. Officers Smith and Smarr pursued him on foot when Lembrick opened fire, striking both officers in the head. Despite his own fatal wound, Officer Smarr returned fire but did not hit the suspect. He then attempted to perform CPR on Officer Smith until he collapsed. Both officers were transported to Phoebe Sumter Regional Hospital, where Officer Smarr was pronounced dead. Officer Smith was flown to a trauma center in Macon, where he died the following day.
Following the shooting, a massive manhunt was launched for Lembrick, with a reward of up to $70,000 offered for information leading to his capture. The search ended the day after Officer Smith's death when law enforcement, acting on a tip, located Lembrick in a residence in Americus. As a SWAT team prepared to enter the home, they heard a single gunshot from inside. They later found Lembrick deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Jody Smith and Nicholas Smarr were lifelong friends who had graduated from high school and the police academy together. Officer Smarr was going to be the best man at Officer Smith's wedding, which was planned for May 2017. In a final act of service, Officer Smith was an organ donor, a decision that was credited with potentially saving multiple lives. The public safety building at Georgia Southwestern State University was later renamed the Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith Memorial Building in their honor.
