S Carolina officer killed responding to domestic disturbance

CAYCE, S.C. — A police Okay-9 officer, volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician in central South Carolina was shot and killed whereas responding to a home disturbance early Sunday, police stated.

Roy Andrew “Drew” Barr, 28, had simply begun speaking to a person exterior the home when somebody inside opened hearth shortly earlier than 3 a.m., stated Chief Chris Cowan of the Cayce police division at a information convention. He stated Barr was hit by one bullet.

The person who shot Barr killed himself after seven-hour standoff, stated the South Carolina state police, which has been requested to analyze the capturing. The South Carolina Regulation Enforcement Division’s assertion listed Barr’s age as 27.

Barr turned a police trainee in 2016 and a Okay-9 officer in October 2020, Cowan stated. He was paired with a black Labrador and posed along with her for his official division picture.

“He beloved his canine, Molly, and he beloved his job. He beloved being a Okay-9 officer and he was good at it,” Cowan stated.

Barr didn’t have a spouse or children and as an alternative was dedicated to serving his group, he stated.

“He was married to this occupation,” Cowan stated.

Barr had survived a capturing in 2017, when he was nonetheless a trainee, information retailers reported. The gunman in that case is serving a complete of 30 years in state and federal sentences.

Cayce is a suburb of practically 14,000 individuals simply west of Columbia.

“Our hearts are breaking in Cayce,” Mayor Elise Partin informed reporters earlier Sunday. “Officer Drew Barr has been an necessary a part of the Cayce household since 2016.”

The Monetta Volunteer Hearth Division stated Barr was the captain of their division in Aiken County, WSPA-TV reported.