Honoring 2 Fallen Heroes

Honoring

Police Officer Christopher DeLong, Jr.

Columbia Police Department

EOW: Aug. 29, 2026 | Age: 29 | Tour: 20 months

Police Officer Christopher DeLong was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance near the 900 block of Hazelwood Road, in the Southeast Park area, at approximately 10:41 a.m. Officer DeLong had initially responded to a report of property damage from a domestic dispute. After leaving the original call, he identified a subject and vehicle matching the reported description at a nearby location and called it in. When backup officers arrived a few minutes later, Officer DeLong and another officer had been shot. Officer DeLong succumbed to his wounds at the scene. The suspect, who had a long criminal record, died at the scene. Officer DeLong had served with the Columbia Police Department for nearly two years. Survivors include his wife and two children.

Honoring

Firefighter Randy Lupe

U.S. Wildland Fire Service

EOW: Aug. 23, 2026 | Age: 62 | Tour: N/A

Camp Crewmember Randy Lupe passed away after suffering a medical emergency while working the Frijoles Fire in northern New Mexico.

Disclaimer:

This information is supplied by the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org) and the U.S. Fire Administration (www.apps.usfa.fema.gov).

Founder of FRBA

First Responder Benefit Association (FRBA) is our nonprofit founded to fill the gap of financial hardship that can often burden families of fallen First Responders. The First Responder Task Force funds 100% of FRBA’s administrative and operational expenses so that 100% of public donations go directly to aiding the families in need.

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First Responder Benefit Association is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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*The $5,000 survivor benefit is paid when a line of duty death occurs. Line of duty is defined as AFBA members who are Emergency Service Providers to include law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers who are killed while involved in operations at or responding to/from the scene of an incident. If death occurs otherwise, outside of a suicide, the beneficiary will receive a $2000 benefit.

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