At around 2:45 a.m., dispatch received a report of a suspicious person near the Bay Berry Townhomes. Robinson responded, arriving alone to check on the situation. It was the kind of call officers take every day—routine, until it’s not.
When Robinson located the suspect—later identified as Jonathan Smithers—there was no time for questions. Without warning, Smithers pulled a gun and fired. The bullet struck Officer Robinson in the neck. He fell to the ground, critically wounded and alone.
Just moments later, Officer James Sparks arrived. He found Robinson bleeding out and immediately jumped into action. Sparks administered life-saving aid, applying pressure to the wound and keeping Robinson’s airway clear. His quick thinking and calm response gave his fellow officer the fighting chance he needed.
Robinson was rushed to Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia. Back in Flatwoods, a massive manhunt was already underway. Kentucky State Police, local law enforcement, and federal partners joined together to find Smithers, who had fled on foot. As the investigation unfolded, officers learned that Smithers had also been involved in an ongoing assault on a woman who had managed to escape and hide at a nearby gas station.
While the search for Smithers spread across the area, the hearts of the Flatwoods community remained with Officer Robinson. His condition was critical, but he was still fighting.
Just eleven days after the shooting, the community got the moment they had been praying for. Officer Robinson was released from the hospital. With a police escort leading the way, he was greeted by rows of cheering neighbors, homemade signs, and American flags waving in the wind. He wasn’t walking yet—but he was alive.
Later that year, justice was served. Smithers was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting and the string of violent crimes tied to that night. But for Robinson, the journey was far from over. The injury left him with nerve damage to his neck and shoulder, requiring months of physical therapy and recovery. His road back has been long, but his resilience remains unshaken.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever see my family again,” he said. “But I knew I wasn’t alone. Officer Sparks, the department, the town—they all brought me back.”
At BenShot, we created the H2K (Hard 2 Kill) series to honor people like Officer Tommy Robinson. Not just because of what happened to him, but because of how he handled it—with courage, strength, and quiet determination. He reminds us that real heroes don’t always make headlines. Sometimes, they’re just doing their job, showing up when it matters most, and trusting their team to bring them home.
Officer Tommy Robinson is a hero we’re proud to know.