74-year-old Frederick “Fred” Hopkins has been identified by authorities as the man accused of shooting several police officers in Florence, South Carolina.
Hopkins opened fire on seven law enforcement officers Wednesday (Oct. 3), killing Terrence Carraway, a beloved officer and family man who had just celebrated 30 years with the Florence Police Department.
Authorities said Hopkins rained gunfire on the police officers from two agencies, killing Carraway and wounding six others, from a perch inside his home near Florence, South Carolina. Police were there to serve a search warrant for a 27-year-old person who was accused of sexually assaulting a foster child at the home.
Fred Hopkins, also known as Frederick Hopkins, was taken to the hospital because he fell and hit his head at the scene, and has not been able to speak with police. He is the husband of Cheryl Turner-Hopkins, a prominent divorce lawyer in the Florence area. Hopkins himself is a disbarred lawyer.
Here’s what you need to know about Fred Hopkins and the shooting:
Frederick “Fred” Hopkins is a Vietnam Veteran who claimed he suffered from Agent Orange.
Fred Hopkins wrote in rambling posts on Facebook that he was a Vietnam veteran and survivor of cancer, an ailment for which he attributed to Agent Orange exposure.
Court documents from an old child support case in 2000 indicated Hopkins was wounded in Vietnam. “Father was injured in the Vietnam war; his sole source of income is his disability check of $1127.00 per month,” the documents say in reference to Hopkins.
He wrote in one particular Facebook post (via Heavy.com):
“Today was a fantastic day! I went to the Dorn VA Hospital in Columbia, SC, and spoke with my oncologist, who gave me some very good news. My recent P.E.T. scan from the Charleston VA Hospital shows that I have no evidence of an active case of ‘b-cell lymphoma.’ Once I complete my schedule of chemo sessions, they will let me rest for several months and monitor my case with simple scans. That means — no radiation treatments in the near future. I am in remission!!! My family couldn’t be happier. Looks like I will be around for a few more years. I just might make it to my birthday in two days! The sun was shining and the powers above looked upon me with kindness.”
Hopkins also wrote that he had “many things to be thankful for and life is one of those miracles. Now I can concentrate on my nine little pups and give them hope. Have a great day, one and all. Today I tried to remember those who passed on 9/11 and all those friends of mine from EMHS who crossed over much too early! Be patient, we will all be together in the far future.”
In that post, Hopkins claimed that he had lost 50 comrades in Vietnam.
“I miss you all very much and especially those who died 6 May 1970 on the slopes of FSB Henderson, RVN,” he wrote. “Time magazine in the May 1970 issue it was the bloodiest firebase attack in the Army’s history. I lost more than 50 of the best brothers I ever knew my short life. They deserved better.”
Hopkins also wrote about being exposed to “heavy doses” of Agent Orange:
“Had the biggest ‘gut check’ of my life yesterday. I underwent 8.5 hours [of] chemo for ‘mantle cell lymphoma’ because I was exposed to heavy doses of ‘Agent Orange’ while performing combat duties with the 101st Airborne Division in Viet Nam in 1969-1970. I have been fighting this disease for five years on my own and the VA finally found out why I had pain and swollen nodules in my neck. Next chemo on June 12th. Feeling well so far, but was allergic to several meds they gave me. No pain, no gain! My eight kids are all in the house and one on the way — due about August 8th, plus or minus ten days. Updates to follow.”
Fred Hopkins: Florence Shooting Suspect ID’d as 74-Year-Old Disbarred Lawyer is a post from: Gossip On This - Pop Culture, News, Videos & Humor
