A Greenwood police officer was killed Monday afternoon when his patrol cruiser was hit head-on by a Jeep that witnesses say was fleeing a traffic stop. The officer has been identified as 31-year-old Don "DJ" Keller, a K-9 handler and military veteran. His K-9 partner, Vice, was also in the vehicle but was not seriously hurt. The deadly collision happened on East Cambridge Avenue near Ames Street after the Jeep crossed into oncoming traffic.
What officials say about the crash
Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin told reporters that officers tried to pull over a blue Jeep believed to be connected to several recent shooting-related incidents, and that Keller was driving to assist with that stop when the Jeep took off, crossed the center line and slammed into his cruiser, according to South Carolina Public Radio. Chaudoin said he has reviewed video of the crash and is standing by Keller’s actions while the department continues gathering evidence.
Suspects, injuries and probe
Authorities say the Jeep was driven by a 15-year-old and had two passengers, ages 17 and 18. All three were taken to hospitals after the wreck, and one passenger was later transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice, according to FOX Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the crash investigation and has not released the conditions of the Jeep’s occupants or said whether charges are on the way.
Community reaction and official response
Neighbors left flowers at the crash site, and officers draped a cruiser outside the police department as Greenwood began to mourn. Chief Chaudoin, visibly emotional, said Keller "did nothing wrong," according to WYFF. Governor Henry McMaster called Keller’s death a "tragic loss" and said he will order flags lowered at the State House on the day of the funeral, a statement reported by FOX Carolina.
Who Keller was
According to Police1, Keller served in the U.S. Army from 2016 to 2020 and stayed connected through the National Guard before joining the Greenwood Police Department in 2023. He became a K-9 handler in 2025 and is survived by his wife and their two-year-old daughter. Local reporting notes he is the first Greenwood officer to die in the line of duty since 1956, a gap that underlines how deeply this loss is hitting the community.
What investigators will review
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the active investigation with support from SLED, and officials say they will pull video and other evidence as they work out what comes next, according to South Carolina Public Radio. Investigators are asking anyone who may have dash-cam or cellphone footage of the chase to come forward while troopers, emergency crews and prosecutors sort through the details of the case.
