- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Hemingway Today
By the People, for the People
Jury clears former Hemingway officer in 2022 shooting after high-speed chase
Sgt. Cassandra Ann Dollard acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in fatal shooting of Robert Langley Jr.
Published on Feb. 20, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A jury has acquitted former Hemingway police Sgt. Cassandra Ann Dollard of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal 2022 shooting of Robert Langley Jr. following a high-speed chase. Prosecutors argued Langley was unarmed and posed no clear threat when Dollard fired, but the defense said she faced a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation and acted reasonably to protect herself and the public.
Why it matters
The case drew intense attention to law enforcement use of force and the challenges officers face in rapidly evolving encounters. Langley's family previously reached a $1 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against Dollard, the Town of Hemingway and Williamsburg County.
The details
Dollard, who had served nearly three decades in law enforcement, was charged in connection with the February 2022 shooting that followed a high-speed pursuit that began in Williamsburg County after Langley failed to stop at a stop sign. The chase reached speeds exceeding 120 mph and ended in neighboring Georgetown County when Langley's vehicle crashed into a ditch. Prosecutors said Langley, 46, was unarmed and posed no clear threat at the moment Dollard fired a single shot, but the defense argued Dollard faced a rapidly deteriorating and unpredictable situation and acted reasonably under the circumstances.
- The incident occurred in February 2022.
- The jury acquitted Dollard on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The players
Cassandra Ann Dollard
A former Hemingway police sergeant who was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in the 2022 shooting of Robert Langley Jr.
Robert Langley Jr.
A 46-year-old man who was fatally shot by Sgt. Dollard following a high-speed chase in 2022.
Rose Mary Parham
The defense attorney for Sgt. Dollard.
What they’re saying
“This verdict reflects what the evidence showed from the beginning. Officer Dollard was confronted with a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation and was forced to make a decision in seconds to protect herself and the public.”
— Rose Mary Parham, Defense attorney
The takeaway
This case highlights the complex and challenging situations law enforcement officers can face, where they must make split-second decisions to protect themselves and the public. While the use of force by police remains a contentious issue, this verdict suggests the jury believed Sgt. Dollard's actions were reasonable given the rapidly evolving circumstances she confronted.
