Officer killed in US South Carolina park shooting

New York, Aug 30 (IANS) A police officer was killed and a second was injured in a shooting at a park in Columbia, the US state of South Carolina, according to police.

Columbia Police Department Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook confirmed that the suspect also died.

The incident occurred at Southeast Park on Hazelwood Road in the city as two officers responded to a reported domestic dispute, Holbrook said at a press conference, reports Xinhua news agency.

Chris DeLong, 29, died after being shot in the line of duty, according to CPD Chief W. H. “Skip” Holbrook.

Another officer, David Dymock was also shot and injured but remains in stable condition, according to Holbrook.

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

Police said the scene was secure around 12 p.m. local time. Law enforcement asked the public to avoid the area as investigations continued.

The last Columbia police officer that was shot and killed in the line of duty was Lieutenant Philip George Schlatterer on July, 25, 1974, more than 50 years ago, according to the Officer Down memorial page.

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

According to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, the shooting took place at Charles Young Park in the city’s downtown, where five people were shot.

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

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

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

–IANS

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