South Carolina Officer Murdered While Responding To Domestic Incident

Cayce, SC – A Cayce police officer was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call early on Sunday morning.

Cayce Police Chief Chris Cowan said the shooting occurred at about 2:48 a.m. on April 24 when officers responded to a home on Rossmore Drive located less than a mile from the 12th Street Extension, WLTX reported.

Chief Cowan said three officers arrived at the scene and talked to a man who was in the front yard.

That was when someone inside the residence opened fire on the officers out front, WLTX reported.

Cayce Police Officer Roy Andrew “Drew” Barr was struck by a bullet, according to the police chief.

“There was no call for it, there was no reason for it,” Chief Cowan said. “It was inexcusable.”

Officer Barr was rushed to the hospital but the 28 year old succumbed to his wounds several hours later, WLTX reported.

Chief Cowan said Officer Barr “cared about nothing else other than serving this community. And he was shot and killed this morning for no reason,” The State reported.

“There was no call for it and no reason for it. It was inexcusable,” he added.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene to assist Cayce police.

Here’s the scene on Taylor Road in Cayce this morning, some cars appear to be able to move through. Massive first responder presence in aftermath of Officer Drew Barr’s death

-Cayce PD
-LCSO
-WCPD
-Cayce Fire
-WC Fire
-Lex Co EMS

All on scene @wis10 pic.twitter.com/Oihmj0MsVI

— Chris Joseph WIS (@Chris_D_Joseph) April 24, 2022

The scene is very active after, according to authorities, a suspect opened fire and shot a Cayce Police Officer @WLTX pic.twitter.com/6iOwqUL2AZ

— Eleanor Tabone (@EleanorTabone) April 24, 2022

Columbia Police Department negotiators worked for seven hours to try to get the gunman to give up, but the suspect ultimately took his own life, WLTX reported.

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office identified the gunman who killed Officer Barr as 36-year-old Austin Henderson, according to The State.

“Our hearts are breaking in Cayce. Officer Drew Barr has been an important part of the Cayce family since 2016,” Cayce Mayor Elise Partin told reporters at a press briefing. “All of our Cayce officers, our Cayce team, and our Cayce citizens mourn with Officer Barr’s family.”

A memorial has started just in front of the Cayce Public Safety Complex for Officer Drew Barr with the Cayce Police Department, he was killed early Sunday morning in the line of duty @wachfox pic.twitter.com/ZK64HCd5F4

— Sydni Edwards (@SydniSpeakstv) April 24, 2022

Officials have not said whether officers returned fire during the incident, The State reported.

Officer Barr joined the Cayce police in 2016 and joined the K9 unit in 2020, WLTX reported.

He was also an EMT and a volunteer firefighter.