Roll of Honor
Incident
Lance Corporal Dana Tate and Corporal Dyke "A.J." Coursen were shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call on Riley Road, in Burton, at approximately 4"00 p.m.
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, who was a convicted felon on parole, was sentenced to death in 2003.
Lance Corporal Tate was a U.S. Navy veteran and had been a member of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department for over four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his family.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-14CE195B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Lance Corporal Tate gave the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Beaufort 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Dana Lyle Tate served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Lance Corporal Dana Lyle Tate is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dana Lyle Tate's cause is highlighted.
How Dana Lyle Tate Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dana Lyle Tate is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dana Lyle Tate was killed by rifle; sks.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Beaufort County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
