Veteran set ambush for S.C. cops before shooting

The decorated 74-yearold Vietnam War veteran accused of shooting seven South Carolina law enforcement officers had set an ambush for investigators coming to question his adult son about a child sexual assault, the sheriff investigating the case said yesterday.

Frederick Hopkins was charged with murder and six counts of attempted murder yesterday, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. Hopkins has been in the hospital since he was taken into custody after the Wednesday afternoon shooting, but should be released and taken to jail soon, Lott said.

Florence County investigators called Hopkins’ home and arranged to speak to his 28-year-old adopted son, Seth Hopkins, about a sex assault investigation Wednesday afternoon, Lott said, adding that they had a search warrant. Officials had previously given the son’s age as 27.

The three deputies were shot without warning as they got out of their car, he said.

Dozens of officers rushed to help, and the gunman shot four city of Florence officers. Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway was killed.

So many rounds were fired with such powerful weapons that it took up to 30 minutes to get an armored vehicle close enough to rescue the wounded officers, Florence police Chief Allen Heidler said.

The standoff lasted two hours.

Several children in the home were not harmed, authorities said.

Seth Hopkins was charged yesterday with second-degree criminal sexual conduct. Authorities didn’t immediately release details about the crime.