Dennis Elisha LaPage
Private First Class

Dennis Elisha LaPage

Charleston Police Dept. — Charleston, SC
Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch January 19, 2002
Age 36
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 149 ›
Gender Male

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
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.
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

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
Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Dennis Elisha LaPage served in the Navy (1985–1991) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Private First Class Dennis Elisha LaPage 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 Charleston Police Dept., 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 Dept.
12
of 24 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis Elisha LaPage's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Dennis Elisha LaPage Compares

Age at End of Watch
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Elisha LaPage is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Elisha LaPage was killed by handgun; .40 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location