Sandy MaloneMyrtle Beach, SC – Myrtle Beach Police Patrolman First Class Jacob Hancher was fatally shot while responding to a domestic incident on Saturday night.
The shooting occurred when Myrtle Beach police officers were responding to a domestic violence call at about 10 p.m. on Oct. 3 in the 400-block of 14th Avenue South, WMBF reported.
A suspect opened fire on police and officers returned fire.
Patrolman Hancher was fatally shot and Myrtle Beach Police Corporal Tom Vest was wounded, WMBF reported.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Spokesman Tommy Crosby said the suspect was found deceased after the gunfight, according to The Post and Courier.
Cpl. Vest was treated for his wounds at the hospital and released the next day.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock told reporters at a press conference that 23-year-old Patrolman Hancher had been a community service officer for the department for four years, and had become a patrol officer less than a year before he was killed, The Post and Courier reported.
“He was a dedicated public servant who upheld his oath to protect this community and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Chief Prock said. “He cared about the people that he served, served with, and absolutely loved Myrtle Beach.”
"Today we are mourning the loss of one of our officers, PFC Jacob Hancher was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call for service. Officer Hancher has been with the Myrtle Beach Police Department for four years as a Comunity Service Officer…https://t.co/RlZsxKoIfo pic.twitter.com/ufc9I0mK0R
— Myrtle Beach Police (@MBPDSC) October 4, 2020
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune took to social media on Sunday morning to ask the community to show love and strength to the members of the police department.
“May God bless everyone affected by this senseless tragedy,” Bethune wrote, according to WMBF.
SLED is conducting the investigation into the shootings, The Post and Courier reported.
Patrolman Hancher was active in the Catholic Church of St. James in Conway.
“He was a dedicated public servant, who upheld his oath to protect this community, and made the ultimate sacrifice. He cared about the people that he served, served with, and absolutely loved Myrtle Beach,” the church posted on its official Facebook page.
The church said Patrolman Hancher had traveled to Honduras with the church on a mission trip in 2017.
“For those who were able to serve alongside him, they learned of his kindness and selfless service,” the post read.
We have tried today to put into words what Officer Jacob Hancher meant to us and to this community. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this video is worth a million words. https://t.co/3KWafJas0O pic.twitter.com/sPGMG8Fqsr
— Myrtle Beach Police (@MBPDSC) October 5, 2020
The men and women of APD join our LE family across the country mourning the tragic murder of @MBPDSC Offc. Jacob Hancher. Ofc. Hancher was shot when he responded to a domestic disturbance call. A somber reminder of dangers offcs face daily in service to their communities. pic.twitter.com/FNsphksPLy
— Chief Brian Manley (@Chief_Manley) October 5, 2020
HAPPENING NOW! A sea of blue lights coming through Mount Pleasant, as they escort the body of Officer Jacob Hancher from Myrtle Beach.#HandSalute 🚔🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/KWTLRRmYH2
— Trooper Bob (@TrooperBob_SC) October 5, 2020
The @SkyWheelMB in Myrtle Beach shined blue tonight in honor of Myrtle Beach police officer Jacob Hancher who died in the line of duty Saturday night. 📸 via Brett Wilburn. pic.twitter.com/KA9KxkcSAk
— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) October 5, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Police Officer Jacob Hancher’s family, friends, and colleagues. Officer Hancher was shot and killed as he and other officers responded to a domestic incident. He served with the Myrtle Beach Police Department for five years. #FidelisAdMortem pic.twitter.com/i7uHHjLBFW
— NYPD 60th Precinct (@NYPD60Pct) October 5, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Myrtle Beach Police Patrolman First Class Jacob Hancher, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Patrolman Jacob Hancher, your life mattered.
Holly Matkin
