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A South Carolina police officer was killed and another was wounded on Aug. 29 after a shooting erupted at a park while they were responding to a reported domestic violence dispute, authorities said.
The shooting occurred after officers received a call about a disturbance at a home in Columbia, the state capital, according to police. Officers were initially dispatched at about 9:27 a.m. local time on Aug. 29 after a woman reported that a man she had a restraining order against was
inside her residence destroying property.
Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, arrived at the residence and learned the man had left before police got there, Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said during a news conference. After obtaining the suspect's name and descriptions of both the man and his vehicle, DeLong cleared the call.
Shortly after leaving the residence, DeLong initiated a call about a suspicious person after locating a man near a vehicle matching the description provided by the woman, according to the police chief. Officer David Dymock responded as a backup officer and minutes later radioed that "officers were hit and a suspect was down," Holbrook said.
Police confirmed that the man was the same suspect involved in the earlier domestic disturbance. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Adam Dowdy, was killed in the incident. DeLong died from injuries sustained in the shooting, while Dymock remained in stable condition on Aug. 29, Holbrook said.
“Our hearts are broken this evening. We gather under the worst circumstances you could possibly imagine," Holbrook said. "We're deeply hurt, and something that's very painful for us to discuss. What started today as a very ordinary day has changed everybody’s lives."
Suspect in South Carolina shooting had a lengthy criminal history
Dowdy, of Prosperity, South Carolina, had a criminal record that included convictions for disorderly conduct, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance, probation violations and other offenses, according to the police chief.
Holbrook also said authorities were working to verify information indicating Dowdy may have been out on bond in a family violence battery case in Georgia. He added that Dowdy had a history of arrests in South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Georgia.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been asked to investigate the incident, according to Holbrook. The Columbia Police Department said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Community, law enforcement agencies mourn officer's death
Following the news conference on Aug. 29, law enforcement officials, including Holbrook, joined a procession from the hospital honoring DeLong.
DeLong had served with the Columbia Police Department for two years and is survived by his wife and two young children, according to Holbrook.
“We will lean on each other in this tragic time,” Holbrook said. “Pray for this department.”
Law enforcement agencies, community members and local officials across South Carolina expressed condolences following DeLong's death, remembering the officer's service and offering support to his family and the Columbia Police Department.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department said it was "heartbroken" by the loss and shared its support for Columbia police officers. The agency also offered prayers for Dymock as he recovers from his injuries.
The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police said DeLong's death was "deeply felt" by law enforcement officers across the state. "We grieve for his family, the officers who served beside him, and the entire Columbia Police Department," the organization said in a statement.
The South Carolina Policy Council described DeLong as a father, husband, friend and public servant. The organization asked the community to keep his family, friends and fellow officers in their prayers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina officer killed, another wounded in shooting at park
