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  • Surveillance photo shows suspect in fatal shooting at Greensboro Food Lion. (Greensboro Police Department)
  • Surveillance photo shows suspect in fatal shooting at Greensboro Food Lion. (Greensboro Police Department)
  • Surveillance photo shows Anthony Charles Smith. (Greensboro Police Department)

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro police on Monday released photos and new details regarding the homicide of Anthony Charles Smith and is continuing to encourage the community to assist in the identification of the offender.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to the Food Lion at 2316 E. Market St. on a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, they located Smith, 51, lying unresponsive in the entrance of the store suffering from a gunshot wound.

Smith was employed by Guard One Security and was working as an armed uniformed security guard at the time of the shooting. He was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and died upon arrival.

An autopsy was conducted today in Raleigh and concluded that Smith died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

An investigation determined that a lone suspect approached the store on foot and entered the store armed with a handgun. He immediately approached Smith and shot him at close range, according to Greensboro police.

After shooting Smith, the suspect removed Smith’s service weapon from its holster and fled the scene on foot with Smith’s firearm.

The investigation has determined that there was no apparent attempt by the suspect to rob the business or any other individual inside the store prior to fleeing the scene. There was also no reported or observed disturbance inside of the store involving the victim prior to the shooting.

The suspect is described as a heavy-set male in his early 30s. He is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black hat and Nike shoes. A cloth covering also partially concealed his face.

Witness interviews determined that the suspect continued on foot, running south on South English Street from the scene, according to Greensboro police.

At the time of the shooting, numerous employees and customers either fled to the rear of the store or left the scene prior to police arrival.

Investigators are continuing to request that any persons inside of the store between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. who observed the shooting, or may have seen the suspect, to call Crimestoppers at (336) 373-1000 or Det. A.R Hinson at (336) 574-4004.