Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Alpha 35
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 8, 2002
Weapon Used: Rifle; SKS
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Corporal A.J. Coursen and Lance Corporal Dana Tate were shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call on Riley Road, in Burton, at approximately 4:00 pm.
A female had called the sheriff's office and complained about her and her young child being held against their will by her boyfriend. While the deputies were investigating, they were shot by the boyfriend, who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and was hiding inside a bedroom closet.
Deputy Coursen was killed, but Deputy Tate was able to shoot and wound the suspect before he died.
The suspect was later taken into custody after a search. The man was sentenced to death in 2003.
Corporal Coursen had served with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department for one year and had previously served with the LaGrange Police Department (Ohio). He is survived by his wife, son, and stepdaughter.