Archive · 30 Aug 2026
South Carolina Officer Killed, Second Injured in Park Gunfight
Police went to a woman’s home after she reported that a man was destroying property.
She said she had a restraining order against him.
The man had already left when Officer Christopher DeLong arrived.
Later, DeLong saw someone near a vehicle that matched the description he had received.
Officer David Dymock came to help him.
A gunfight followed, and both officers were hit.
DeLong died, while Dymock was in stable condition.
The suspect, Adam Tyler Dowdy, also died.
Columbia police officer Christopher DeLong, 29, was killed in a Saturday gunfight at a South Carolina park.
Officer David Dymock was injured and remained in stable condition, according to the police chief.
Police initially responded around 9:30 a.m. after a woman reported property destruction by a man under a restraining order.
DeLong later spotted a person near a vehicle matching the woman’s description and called for assistance.
The 33-year-old suspect, Adam Tyler Dowdy, also died; officials cited his lengthy criminal record across multiple states.
- Who
- Columbia police officers Christopher DeLong and David Dymock, and 33-year-old suspect Adam Tyler Dowdy were involved.
- What
- A gunfight occurred after police responded to a property-destruction report and later investigated a suspicious person.
- When
- Saturday; the initial call came around 9:30 a.m., and DeLong’s later suspicious-person call came around 10:30 a.m.
- Where
- A South Carolina park and nearby locations in Columbia.
- Why
- Police were responding to a woman’s report that a man under a restraining order was destroying property and later investigating a person near a matching vehicle.
- Deceased officer
- Christopher DeLong, 29, had served with the department for two years.
- Injured officer
- David Dymock was reported to be in stable condition.
- Suspect
- Adam Tyler Dowdy, 33, also died.
- Initial police call
- A woman called police around 9:30 a.m. about property destruction.
- Restraining order
- The woman told police she had a restraining order against the man.
- DeLong’s family
- He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
- Suspect’s record
- Officials said Dowdy had arrests across at least four states and faced charges including disorderly conduct, contempt of court, public intoxication, controlled-substance possession and probation violations.
