Two people, including the suspect, and a police officer were killed, while another officer was wounded in a gunfight at a park in Columbia, South Carolina, the city’s police chief said Saturday (local time).
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According to police, the incident began around 9:30 a.m. when a woman called authorities to report that a man against whom she had a restraining order was “destroying” property at her home.
Officer Christopher DeLong, who was later killed in the exchange of gunfire, arrived at the residence and learned that the suspect had already left. The woman provided DeLong with a description of the man and the vehicle he was believed to be driving.
At around 10:30 a.m., DeLong left the residence. Minutes later, after spotting a man near a vehicle matching the description provided by the woman, he radioed in a report of a suspicious person.
Officer David Dymock arrived as backup. Minutes later, Dymock radioed other officers saying that both officers “were hit and a suspect was down.”
Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Adam Tyler Dowdy, who they said had a history of arrests in at least four states. Dowdy's previous charges included disorderly conduct, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations.
Who was officer Christopher DeLong
DeLong, 29, had served with the Columbia Police Department for two years before he was killed in the gunfight, Police Chief WH “Skip” Holbrook told reporters at a news conference.
He is survived by his wife and their two young children.
“Our hearts are broken this evening,” Holbrook remarked, becoming emotional at times. He urged officers to support one another through the tragedy, adding, “We will lean on each other in this tragic time. Let’s pray for this department.”
In a social media post, DeLong’s wife described the loss as “living a nightmare” and paid tribute to her husband as the “best dad to our babies.”
After the news conference, Holbrook and other law enforcement officials joined a procession from the hospital. Officer Dymock, who was wounded in the shooting, remained in stable condition.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division would investigate the shooting.
