A man fatally shot a South Carolina police officer Sunday who was responding to a domestic dispute before turning the gun on himself, police said.
Cayce Police Department Officer Roy Andrew Barr, 28, was responding to a domestic dispute around 2:48 a.m., when he came in contact with a man standing in the front yard, Cayce Police Chief Chris Cowan said Sunday at a press conference.
As Barr and the man began speaking, 36-year-old Austin Leigh Henderson began firing shots from inside the home and fatally struck Barr, WSPA reported. Henderson then barricaded himself in the home which led to a seven-hour standoff with police. He then fatally shot himself, according to police.
“[Barr] was committed to his profession, he was committed to his community. He cared about nothing else than serving this community and he was shot and killed this morning for no reason,” Cowan said. “It was inexcusable.” (RELATED: Young Police Officer Dies, Another Wounded After Shootout With Suspect At Missouri Motel 6)
Barr joined the department as a trainee in 2016 and graduated from the police academy in 2017. Barr was a volunteer firefighter and EMT and was the captain of the Monetta Volunteer Fire Department, WSPA reported.
“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to one of our own,” the Monetta Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. “Drew Barr was a captain with our department. Drew was shot and killed in the line of duty with Cayce Public Safety. Please pray for his family.”