COLUMBIA, S.C. — An emotional Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook expressed sadness Tuesday to the family of a pregnant mother killed in a collision with a Columbia police officer. He also gave updated information on the fatal shooting that proceeded her death and triggered the large police response.
Holbrook spoke publicly about a tragic series of events that were triggered by a deadly shooting at a car dealership in Columbia Monday afternoon, where police said 28-year-old Westley Gross killed 39-year-old Graham Pope. Just minutes later, 34-year-old Ashley Brown would be injured and eventually die in a collision with a police officer who was responding to the search for the suspect. Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirmed Brown was pregnant with a child who was over 27 weeks along. The child also died.
Holbrook teared up as he talked about the death of Brown.
"As a parent I can't imagine the extend of the pain her family is going through and I can only say I'm sorry," he said.
Holbrook provided a timeline of events for Monday's incident. He said it all began at 3:04 p.m., when police got a call of a shooting at the JT Kia dealership on Greystone Boulevard. Four minutes later, officers arrived and found the victim, Pope, who was seated in a vehicle. Pope had been shot several times, Holbrook said.
A witness described the gray Ford Mustang Gross was driving and police located that vehicle at 3:10 p.m. driving down River Drive. They turned on their police sirens and lights to try and stop him but police said he drove away, leading leading them on a chase.
At that same time, Columbia Police Officer Darian Davis heard the police broadcast of the chase and started to respond from his location, which was on North Main Street. Less than a minute later, however, Davis' vehicle collided with Brown's car at the intersection of North Main and Prescott Road. Their collision then caused another vehicle, a van, to crash as well.
Davis, Brown, and the driver of the other vehicle were all taken to the hospital. Brown later died at the hospital. Davis had surgery after suffering a leg injury and continues to recover. The driver of the van has been released from the hospital.
Holbrook said Gross then led them for several miles on the chase, which finally ended at 3:18 p.m. when he drove up a driveway and crashed into a wood line on Shady Lane, which is in the Lake Katherine area of Forest Acres. He jumped out of the car, the chief said, but officers caught him after a short chase.
In all, the Holbrook said the pursuit lasted 8 minutes and 13 seconds He added that his officers found two guns and multiple rounds in Gross' vehicle.
Gross is now charged with murder, among several other counts and while he was set to be in court Tuesday afternoon, he waived his right to appear. Holbrook said he was still free on bond from a February 2023 charge of pointing and presenting a firearm and breach of peace.
Holbrook said there is still no motive yet in the car dealership shooting but that investigation continues.
The chief said the South Carolina Highway Patrol will investigate the collision between Brown and Davis. Davis has been with Columbia Police for 16 months and is in good standing with the agency.
"We strive for perfection and train for perfection in an imperfect word," Holbrook said in expressing his sorrow over the fatal collision.. "I know what these officer go through every day in the service of their community. I know the work they do to save lives."