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Police identify 74-year-old disbarred lawyer as suspect in shooting of seven South Carolina cops
Authorities identify the suspect in a shooting that killed a police officer and injured six more. (Image source: WPDE-TV video screenshot)

Police identify 74-year-old disbarred lawyer as suspect in shooting of seven South Carolina cops

Authorities identified 74-year-old Frederick Hopkins, a disbarred lawyer, as the suspect in a Wednesday shooting in Florence, South Carolina, that killed one police officer and injured six more.

What are the details behind the attack?

Hopkins, who is also a Vietnam veteran, reportedly fired on three Florence County deputies with a high-powered rifle when they tried to serve a warrant Wednesday afternoon.

According to CBS News, police were attempting to serve a warrant involving the suspect's 27-year-old son for allegedly sexually assaulting a foster child in the home. Authorities reported that Hopkins' son was also shot, but it is unclear at this time whether Hopkins or police shot him.

Police say the suspect then took children hostage in the home, which resulted in a standoff that lasted for about  two hours. After backup arrived to help the first three officers, Hopkins reportedly shot four more officers. One of the officers, Terrence Carraway, a 30-year veteran of the force, died from his injuries.

Authorities ordered a bullet-resistant rescue vehicle to the scene in order to evacuate officers who had been shot. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Afterward, the police department and the sheriff's office were able to remove Hopkins from the home after he'd spoken with a negotiator and agreed to be taken into custody.

What else?

The suspect sustained a head injury during the standoff and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Daily Mail reported that the suspect is believed to have fallen at the scene.

No children were injured during the standoff, and their whereabouts are unknown at this time.

At the time of this writing, Hopkins remains in the hospital and has yet to be charged with a crime.

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