Officer killed, another injured in US South Carolina park shooting

August 30, 2026

New York: A police officer was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a park in Columbia, South Carolina, according to police. The suspect also died in the incident.

Columbia Police Department Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook confirmed the deaths during a press conference.

The shooting took place at Southeast Park on Hazelwood Road when two officers responded to a reported domestic dispute, Holbrook said.

Chris DeLong, 29, was killed after being shot in the line of duty, according to the Columbia Police Department. Another officer, David Dymock, was also shot and injured but remains in stable condition.

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

Police said the scene was secured around 12 p.m. local time and asked the public to avoid the area as the investigation continued.

First Columbia police officer killed in line of duty since 1974

The death of DeLong marks the first time in more than 50 years that a Columbia police officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the last Columbia police officer killed in the line of duty was Lieutenant Philip George Schlatterer on July 25, 1974.

The shooting has prompted a large law enforcement response as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Recent park shooting in Kentucky

Earlier this month, one person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a park in Lexington, Kentucky, local media reported, citing police.

Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the shooting took place at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington, where five people were shot.

The injured included a 4-year-old child, a 14-year-old and two adults. All four were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, Weathers said.

A large police presence remained in downtown Lexington, with several surrounding roads closed as officers continued their investigation.

Five injured in Virginia university shooting

In a separate incident, five people were injured in a shooting at Virginia State University, prompting a temporary lockdown on the campus, the university said.

Authorities continued to investigate the incident.