A police officer was killed and another was injured in a gunfight at a park in South Carolina on Saturday after police responded to a call about a domestic dispute, Columbia police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said. The suspect, a 33-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record, also died, Holbrook told a news conference in the state capital.
The officer who died was identified as 29-year-old Christopher DeLong, who had been with the police department for two years. He is survived by his wife and two young children. “Our hearts are broken this evening,” Holbrook said, appearing emotional at times.
According to Holbrook, the incident began at about 9.30 am on Saturday when a woman called police and said a man she had a restraining order against was damaging property at her home. DeLong arrived quickly and was told the suspect had left. The woman gave him a description of the man and the vehicle, the chief said.
At about 10.30 am, DeLong left the home. Minutes later, he reported a suspicious person after seeing a man near a vehicle matching the description given by the woman, Holbrook said. Officer David Dymock then arrived as backup, and minutes later radioed that the officers “were hit and a suspect was down”, the chief said.
Holbrook identified the suspect as Adam Tyler Dowdy and said he had a history of arrests in at least four states, including on charges of disorderly conduct, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations. After the Saturday night news conference, Holbrook and other law enforcement officials joined a procession from the hospital. Dymock was in stable condition, the chief said.
In a social media post, DeLong’s wife described him as the “best dad to our babies” and said she was “living a nightmare”. Holbrook said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division would investigate the shooting, and a spokesperson for the agency said the investigation was ongoing. “I hope that our officers know that they’re not alone in this. We will lean on each other in this tragic time,” Holbrook said. “Let’s pray for this department.” The shooting left one officer dead, another injured but stable, and the suspect dead, with the investigation now under way.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
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