South Carolina cop killed and another wounded in shootout that left gun-wielding suspect dead

A South Carolina cop died and another was wounded in a shootout with a gun-wielding career criminal, who was also killed in the crossfire, according to police and local reports.

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Gunshots rang out near the South East Park area of Columbia, S.C., on Saturday morning when the officers involved went to check out a domestic violence complaint, according to the Columbia Police Department.

“And it’s with heartbreak and sadness that I inform you that one of our officers has succumbed to [his] injuries,” said the city’s top cop, Chief W.H. Holbrook, at a press conference. 

The killed cop was identified as Officer Christopher DeLong, 29, who had been with the Columbia Police Department for two years.

His backup, Officer Daved Dymock, is in stable condition and recovering at a local hospital, according to police.

The fatal encounter began at 9:27 a.m. when officers were dispatched to a disturbance on the 100 block of Holstein Lane. 

A female caller reported that the suspect — identified as 33-year-old Adam Downey — against whom she had a restraining order, was inside her home destroying her property.

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Officer DeLong arrived at 9:43 a.m. to find that Downey had already fled. 

After gathering a physical and vehicle description from the caller, DeLong cleared the residence at 10:32 a.m.

Shortly after, DeLong saw a suspicious person at nearby Hazelwood Road — the man and vehicle matched the victim’s description of Downey.

Dymock arrived as backup at 10:41 a.m. 

Four minutes later, Dymock radioed dispatch that both officers had been hit and the suspect was down.

Police confirmed Downey had a lengthy criminal history with arrests spanning multiple states, and was out on bond at the time of the shooting. 

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading the probe into the shooting, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department is assisting. 

The investigation remains ongoing. The Columbia Police Department was not immediately available for comment. 

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