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Private First Class

Dennis Elisha LaPage

Charleston Police Department — Charleston, SC

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 19, 2002

Age 36

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 149 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 23

Incident

Private First Class Dennis LaPage was shot and killed by a suspect who went on a shooting spree following a three-car collision he was involved in at Cannon Street and Courtenay Drive.

The crash occurred in front of a hospital helicopter landing pad. Two flight medics who were eating at a nearby restaurant witnessed the incident and ran to the scene to offer assistance. As they checked the victims, the suspect reached back into his car and retrieved a handgun. He then opened fire, striking both flight medics, killing one.

The suspect then fled the scene and encountered PFC LaPage, who was working a uniformed off-duty security job at a private college dorm. Thinking PFC LaPage was searching for him, the suspect immediately opened fire, striking him in the head, back, and elbow. The suspect continued to fire several more shots before being apprehended by police on Meeting Street. PFC LaPage was wearing a protective vest at the time.

The suspect was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on October 23, 2002.

PFC LaPage was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Charleston Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two step-children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-BE8F2967
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Dennis is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Private First Class LaPage gave the Charleston Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Charleston Police Department

Type Other

Location Charleston, SC

Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 2002

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .40 caliber

Military Service

Dennis Elisha LaPage served in the U.S. Navy (1985â1991) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Private First Class Dennis Elisha LaPage is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Charleston Police Department, 12 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Department

of 24 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 440 officers

61.6% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious