A South Carolina police officer was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance early Sunday morning. Cayce, SC Police Chief Chris Cowan said in a press conference Sunday that police officer Roy Andrew Barr, 28, was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in the city at around 2:48 a.m. after the suspect opened fire.  The suspect later killed himself.

Barr joined the Cayce Police Department in 2016 and was promoted to the K-9 division in 2020. He worked with a dog named, Molly, that performs tracking and narcotics functions.  Police Chief Cowan said:  “He loved his dog, Molly, and he loved his job. He loved being a K-9 officer, and he was good at it.” 

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

Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Austin Henderson; Police Chief Cowan said Henderson killed himself after a seven-hour negotiation and the coroner’s office confirmed the cause of death.

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