Washington, USA: The Columbia Police Department in South Carolina announced that one of its officers was killed and another was injured, along with the death of a suspect, during an exchange of gunfire that took place on Saturday near a park in the city.
Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook said at a press conference today that the incident began after police responded to a report of a dispute between two people. One of the officers found the suspect near a vehicle matching the descriptions provided, and another arrived at the scene to provide support.
Holbrook added that the exchange of fire resulted in the killing of one of the officers and the wounding of the other, whose condition was described as stable. Meanwhile the suspect was also killed.
The South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident, and police have confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Data from the FBI reveal that law enforcement officers continue to face high rates of assault while performing their duties. Security agencies recorded 90,178 assaults on officers in 2025, the highest rate in 10 years. 53 officers were intentionally killed while on duty and firearms were the most commonly used weapon.
