Suspect, 33, also died; second officer stable after ‘gunfight’
Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said Saturday evening that a 29-year-old officer had been killed and a second officer wounded in a shooting at a Columbia park that began as two officers responded to a reported domestic dispute. The 33-year-old suspect also died in the incident, the chief said.
Holbrook addressed reporters at the Saturday evening news conference. “Our hearts are broken this evening,” Holbrook said, adding that the deceased officer was survived by a wife and two young children.
Holbrook said the deceased officer had been with the Columbia Police Department for two years. The chief did not release the officer’s name or further identifying details during the briefing.
The wounded officer was in stable condition Saturday evening, Holbrook said, from injuries sustained during what the chief described as a “gunfight.”
Holbrook identified the suspect as a 33-year-old man and said he had a lengthy criminal record. The chief did not take questions from reporters and provided no additional details about the circumstances of the exchange, including its precise location within the park.
Holbrook added that: “I hope that our officers know that they’re not alone in this. We will lean on each other in this tragic time. Let’s pray for this department.”
Holbrook said further briefings would be forthcoming.