This is so tragic.
A South Carolina police officer was killed in the line of duty this weekend by a violent career criminal.
On Saturday, 29-year-old Officer Christopher DeLong responded to a domestic call, which escalated into a shootout with the suspect at a nearby park.
Both DeLong and the criminal were killed. Another officer was injured, but he is in stable condition.
NBC News reported further on the incident:
The shooting unfolded after a woman called police around 9:30 a.m. Saturday saying a man whom she had a restraining order against was destroying property at her home.
DeLong quickly arrived on scene and learned the suspect had left the residence. The woman gave DeLong a description of the suspect and the vehicle, the chief said.
Around 10:30 a.m. DeLong left the home, but just minutes later he initiated a call about a suspicious person after seeing a man near a vehicle that matched the woman’s description, Holbrook said.
Dymock arrived as backup and minutes later radioed that officers “were hit and a suspect was down,” the chief said.
The suspect was Adam Tyler Dowdy, a man with a history of arrests across at least four states who had faced charges including disorderly conduct, contempt of court, public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance and probation violations, the chief said.
Fox News covered the sad story further in this clip:
BREAKING: Columbia, SC police officer SHOT AND KILLED in the line of duty.
Officer Christopher DeLong, 29.
Wife. Two young kids.
He responded to a domestic call. Woman had a restraining order. Suspect was destroying her house.
They found him at a park. Gunfight.
DeLong is…
pic.twitter.com/Xv6NVzrszq
— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman)
August 30, 2026
Christopher DeLong had been with the Columbia police department for over two years.
He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
Matt Van Swol shared an emotional statement from his widow:
I have the worst news…
Sadly, 29-year-old Chris DeLong, a police officer in Columbia SC, father of 2 and husband, has been k*lled in the line of duty.
He was responding to a call involving a violent, repeat offender who was arrested across 3 states.
His widow is devastated.…
pic.twitter.com/EVbby27mo5
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol)
August 30, 2026
I have the worst news…
Sadly, 29-year-old Chris DeLong, a police officer in Columbia SC, father of 2 and husband, has been k*lled in the line of duty.
He was responding to a call involving a violent, repeat offender who was arrested across 3 states.
His widow is devastated.
In her words:
“i can’t find the energy to respond to everyone right now. i’m living a nightmare. this will be the last post I’ll be making for until I can understand what I am going through.
I am heart broken. My person. My love. The best dad to our babies and the person I’ve been with since I was 16 was killed today in the line of duty.
someone’s selfish decisions took away the one person I loved and i knew I would always have, and my babies now have to grow up with their daddy.
i can’t process this. i want to wake up from this. I can’t respond to everyone but i needed to take a minute to update everyone.
I’m going through every stage of grief while also still remembering there’s two babies having to go through this as well.
I’m pissed. I’m heartbroken. I’m everything. Somebody wake me up. I’ve never had to be without Chris.
I’m going to figure this out because I have to live for my babies. I am not okay. I need Chris. I need my person. I need him!! I love you Chris. I need you.”
Please pray for her and Chris’s kids… I cannot imagine what they are going through.
Here are a few more photos of Officer DeLong with his wife:
RIP to Gamecock and Columbia Police Officer Chris Delong Jr. who was shot and killed today in the line of duty.
Father, Son, Husband, friend, public servant.
If you are the praying type, say a prayer for his family tonight, both biological and the CPD.
pic.twitter.com/lu3KTA0840
— Gamecock Bourbon Society (@GamecockBourbon)
August 30, 2026
On Sunday, a massive police procession was performed in Columbia to honor Officer DeLong.
Watch:
A police procession starting here at Prisma Health ER to honor City of Columbia Police Officer Chris DeLong.
DeLong died after being shot in the line of duty at Southeast Park this morning.
The procession will end at Shakespeare Road in Columbia.
@wachfox pic.twitter.com/vMAaNGJRDY
— Michael White (@michaelw_13)
August 29, 2026
During that procession, the officer who was injured in Saturday’s shootout insisted on being rolled out of the hospital to witness it.
Take a look:
Officer David Dymock is in stable condition and insisted on being wheeled out of the hospital and standing up for the procession that carried officer Christopher DeLong to the Coroner's Office.
pic.twitter.com/UdeqnIP4dH
— Law Enforcement Legal Defense (@LELDF)
August 30, 2026
Rest in peace, officer.
Please keep Christopher DeLong’s wife, children, and many other loved ones in your prayers in their time of unimaginable grief and loss.
Continue reading...
[ H/T WLT Report ]
