A South Carolina police officer died and a second was injured in a “gunfight” Saturday in a park that adopted a name a couple of home dispute, Columbia police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook stated.
The suspect, a 33-year-old man with a prolonged felony report, additionally died, Holbrook stated at a information convention within the capital metropolis.
The deceased officer, 29-year-old Christopher DeLong, had been with the police division for 2 years and leaves behind a spouse and two younger youngsters, Holbrook stated.
“Our hearts are damaged this night,” he stated, showing to be choked up at occasions.
DeLong’s spouse, in a social media submit, praised her husband because the “finest dad to our infants” and stated she was “residing a nightmare.”
After a Saturday evening information convention, Holbrook and different legislation enforcement officers joined in a procession from the hospital. The second officer, David Dymock, was in steady situation, the chief stated.
“I hope that our officers know that they’re not alone on this. We are going to lean on one another on this tragic time,” Holbrook stated. “Let’s pray for this division.”
The taking pictures unfolded after a lady known as police round 9:30 a.m. Saturday saying a person who she had a restraining order in opposition to was destroying property at her house.
DeLong rapidly arrived on scene and realized the suspect had left the residence. The lady gave DeLong an outline of the suspect and car description, the chief stated.
Round 10:30 a.m. DeLong left the house however simply minutes later he initiated a name a couple of suspicious particular person after seeing a person close to a car that matched the lady’s description, Holbrook stated.
Dymock arrived as backup and minutes later radioed that officers “have been hit and a suspect was down,” the chief stated.
The suspect was Adam Tyler Dowdy, a person with a historical past of arrests throughout a minimum of 4 states who had confronted expenses together with disorderly conduct, contempt of court docket, public intoxication, possession of a managed substance and probation violations, the chief stated.
Holbrook, who didn’t take questions on the information convention, stated the South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division would examine the taking pictures. A spokesperson for that company stated in an electronic mail that the investigation was ongoing.
