S.C. Police Officer Killed, Another Wounded in Park Shooting

Columbia Police Officer Chris DeLong was killed and another was wounded after they tracked a domestic disturbance suspect to a city park, marking the department's first line-of-duty shooting death in more than 50 years.

By Javon L. Harris

Source The State

Aug. 30, 2026

3 min read

Add Us On Google

What to Know

Columbia Police Officer Chris DeLong, 29, was fatally shot Saturday while investigating a domestic disturbance that led officers to Southeast Park; fellow officer David Dymock was also shot and wounded but was in stable condition.
Police said the suspect had allegedly violated a restraining order and damaged property before leaving the scene, and officers later located him at the park, where a shooting erupted.
DeLong, a two-year veteran of the department, is the first Columbia officer shot and killed in the line of duty since Lt. Philip George Schlatterer in 1974.

Columbia Police Officer Chris DeLong, a two-year veteran of the department and father of two, was fatally shot Saturday during an encounter with a suspect who was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.

For the first time in more than half a century, a Columbia Police Department officer was shot and killed in the line of duty during an incident a local park.

Chris DeLong, 29, died after being shot at Southeast Park in Columbia on Saturday, according to CPD Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook.

Another officer, David Dymock, was also shot and injured but was in stable condition, according to Holbrook.

“Our hearts are broken this evening,” Holbrook said during a news conference Saturday. “Together, under the worst circumstances you can possibly imagine, we’re deeply hurt.”

The suspect in the shooting, Adam Dowdy, 33, of Prosperity was also killed during the incident, Holbrook said. Those shootings at Southeast Park followed a reported domestic dispute that happened earlier Saturday about a mile away, police said.

DeLong was with the department for two years and is survived by his wife and two young children.

The last Columbia police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty was Lt. Philip George Schlatterer on July, 25, 1974 — more than 50 years ago — according to the Officer Down memorial page.

A domestic disturbance

At around 9:40 a.m. Saturday, DeLong was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Holstein Lane in reference to a domestic disturbance, Holbrook said.

When DeLong arrived at the house on Holstein Lane, he spoke to a female victim who said she had a restraining order against Dowdy and that he had been at the home causing a disturbance and “destroying property,” according to Holbrook. Dowdy left when the woman called 911, police said. She provided officers with a description of Dowdy and his car, Holbrook said.

A few minutes after 10:32 a.m., DeLong told CPD dispatch that he’d located a suspicious person and a vehicle matching the description of Dowdy’s car at 951 Hazelwood Road (the address of Southeast Park), Holbrook said. At 10:41 a.m., Dymock arrived on scene to back up DeLong.

Four minutes later, Dymock radioed that both officers had been shot and that Dowdy “was down,” Holbrook said.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating the incident, according to CPD.

Dowdy has a varied criminal past, Holbrook said, and “has a history of several arrests” in South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Georgia.

“Additional details will be released as appropriate,” Holbrook said.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist Columbia police and said the scene was secure around 12:03 p.m.

Southeast Park is more than 60 acres and features walking trails, a pond, and tennis and pickleball courts. It’s adjacent to a few neighborhoods and not far from a Walmart and other local businesses. That park, as well as Holstein Lane, are both near Garners Ferry Road.

______________

Visit thestate.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.