South Carolina Shooting: Who Was Chris DeLong Jr? Inside The Slain Officer's Life With Wife And Kids
29-year-old Columbia police officer Chris DeLong Jr. tragically died in the line of duty after Saturday's shooting in South Carolina that left a second officer injured.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleSouth Carolina is mourning the tragic death of Columbia Police Officer Christopher “Chris” DeLong Jr., the 29-year-old officer who was killed in the line of duty during a shooting on Saturday, August 29, 2026. He was on duty with fellow officer David Dymock when a convicted felon opened fire at 951 Hazelwood Road near a local park in South Carolina, leaving both injured. While Officer Dymock survived with gunshot injuries, DeLong’s injuries were fatal.
Behind the badge, DeLong was more than a police officer. He was a husband, father, son, and member of a family with deep ties to law enforcement. He is survived by his wife, Hannah, and their two young children.
What led to the fatal shootout in South Carolina?
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday morning after Columbia police were called to a reported domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Holstein Lane. According to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook, a woman told officers that a man she had a restraining order against had come to her home and caused damage before leaving the area.
Officer DeLong responded to the call at around 9:27 a.m. The woman reportedly provided authorities with a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Shortly after, DeLong spotted a person and vehicle matching that description near Southeast Park on Hazelwood Road. He requested backup, and Officer David Dymock arrived at the scene.
Officers reported that the shots were fired around 10:45 a.m., leaving both officers wounded. DeLong was critically wounded and later died from his injuries, but Dymock was reported to be in stable condition. The suspect was later identified as Adam Dowdy, a 33-year-old convicted felon, who also died during the shootout.
Who was Chris DeLong Jr.?
At just 29 years old, Christopher Michael DeLong Jr. had already spent approximately two years serving with the Columbia Police Department. He joined the department in 2025 and graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy in January 2025, after which he was assigned to the Southeast region.
He was one of the respected officers who was widely loved beyond the uniform. He is survived by his father, also a former police officer, his beloved wife, and their two children. While little personal information about DeLong's family has been released to the public, the community has identified his wife as Hannah.
In an emotional tribute after his death, the Columbia Firefighters Association highlighted the devastating personal loss behind the tragedy, remembering DeLong not only as an officer but as a husband and father. The department wrote:
"Officer Chris DeLong… made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Behind the badge was a husband, a father, a friend, and a man who answered the call to serve knowing the risks that came with it. Our hearts are especially with his wife, Hannah, and their two children, whose sacrifice is greater than words can express. May they feel the strength of an entire community standing beside them in the difficult days ahead."
What we know about the gunman
The gunman, identified as Adam Dowdy, 33, was a resident of Prosperity, South Carolina. Police said Dowdy was the suspect in the domestic incident that first brought Officer Chris DeLong Jr. to the area on Saturday morning. A woman reportedly called the department after he violated a restraining order, but by the time the officers arrived, he had already fled her residence.
According to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook, Dowdy had a lengthy criminal history, with prior arrests in South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Georgia. After officers located a man and vehicle matching the description provided by the victim, a shooting erupted near Southeast Park on Hazelwood Road. Dowdy also died during the incident.
Chris DeLong Jr. was only 29. He had a wife waiting for him at home and two young children who had lost their father far too soon. Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, with assistance from the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
Our condolences and prayers are with Officer Chris DeLong Jr.'s family during this difficult time.
Image courtesy: Facebook, WIS News 10
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