A gunfight between a man with an extensive arrest record and two police officers in Columbia, South Carolina, left one officer dead and another wounded on Saturday morning.
The two officers responded to a domestic dispute call just after 9:30 a.m. at a residence where a woman said a man she had a restraining order against was in her home destroying property.
By the time the officers arrived, he had left the scene, but they found him about an hour later and a “gunfight” ensued.
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“Our hearts are broken this evening,” Columbia police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said at a news conference later Saturday. “We gather under the worst of circumstances you could possibly imagine. We’re deeply hurt.”
Holbrook added, “It’s with heartbreak and sadness that I inform you that one of our officers has succumbed to his injuries.”
Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, had been with the police department for two years and leaves behind a wife and two young children, Holbrook said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with Officer DeLong’s family, his loved ones and friends and coworkers,” he said.
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The second officer, David Dymock, is in stable condition, Holbrook said, adding, “our prayers are with him as he continues to recover from wounds sustained during the gunfight.”
The suspect, identified as Adam Tyler Dowdy, was also killed in the gunfight.
Dowdy had a series of arrests for disorderly conduct, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations, Holbrook said.
Holbrook added that Dowdy may have been out on bond for battery in Georgia.
“We’re still trying to verify that preliminary information,” he said. “He has a history of several arrests that span through the following states: South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Georgia.”
He asked for people to pray for the DeLong family “to have strength as they navigate this unimaginably difficult time.”
Holbrook said he had already gotten condolences from every law enforcement agency in the region as well as South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
“I’m saddened by the tragic loss of Officer Chris DeLong of the Columbia Police Department,” U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., wrote on X. “Officer DeLong answered the call to serve and protect us all, and he lost his life in the line of duty this morning. My prayers are with his family, friends, and the Columbia Police Department. I’m also praying for Officer David Dymok, who was injured while serving and protecting our community. We’re hoping for his quick and full recovery. Law enforcement officers are heroes who protect us every day. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting.
