South Carolina Officer Killed in Park Shootout
South Carolina Officer Killed in Park Shootout
The News
A Columbia, South Carolina police officer was killed and a second officer wounded Saturday in what the city's police chief called a "gunfight" at a park, after a call about a domestic dispute. The suspect also died.
Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook identified the officer killed as Christopher DeLong, 29, a two-year veteran of the department who leaves behind a wife and two young children.
The second officer, David Dymock, was in stable condition Saturday night, Holbrook said.
The suspect was Adam Tyler Dowdy, 33, a man the chief said had a lengthy criminal record spanning at least four states.
Timeline
Around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a woman called Columbia police to say a man she had a restraining order against was destroying property at her home, Holbrook said.
DeLong arrived quickly and learned the man had already left. The woman gave him a description of the suspect and of his vehicle.
Around 10:30 a.m., DeLong left the home. Minutes later he radioed in a call about a suspicious person after spotting a man near a vehicle matching the woman's description.
Dymock arrived as backup. Minutes after that, according to the chief, Dymock radioed that officers "were hit and a suspect was down."
Holbrook announced DeLong's death at a Saturday night news conference in the state capital. Afterward, he and other law enforcement officials joined a procession from the hospital.
Reactions
"Our hearts are broken this evening," Holbrook said, appearing choked up at times during the news conference.
"I hope that our officers know that they're not alone in this. We will lean on each other in this tragic time," he said. "Let's pray for this department."
DeLong's wife wrote in a social media post that her husband was the "best dad to our babies" and said she was "living a nightmare."
What's Next
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division will investigate the shooting, Holbrook said. A spokesman for that agency said the investigation is ongoing.
Holbrook did not take questions at Saturday's news conference, and police have not released an account of who fired first or how many shots were exchanged.
More
Holbrook said Dowdy's record included charges of disorderly conduct, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations.
Early reports from the scene, before the department's evening briefing, described two officers wounded and the suspect dead; DeLong's death was confirmed later in the day.
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