Video: Florence Cop Killing Suspect Set Up House for Deadly Ambush, Sheriff Says
“Just going inside that house is chilling," Sheriff Lott said during the press conference. "I’ve been doing this a long time and been to a lot of crime scenes, and this is probably one of the worst that I’ve ever seen.”

The exterior of the Florence, SC, home where officers reportedly shot it out with Frederick Hopkins shows signs of damage from the gun battle. Sergeant Terrence Carraway of the Florence Police Department was killed in the Oct. 3 incident. Six other law enforcement officers were wounded.
Richland County (SC) Sheriff Leon Lott says the 6,500-square-foot Florence, SC, home of cop killing suspect Frederick Hopkins had been set up to facilitate an ambush attack on law enforcement. Sergeant Terrence Carraway of the Florence Police Department was killed in the Oct. 3 incident, and six other officers and Florence County Sheriff's deputies were wounded.
“Just going inside that house is chilling," Sheriff Lott said during the press conference. "I’ve been doing this a long time and been to a lot of crime scenes, and this is probably one of the worst that I’ve ever seen.” The Richland County Sheriff's Office has been called in to conduct an investigation of the incident.
According to Lott, crime scene crews from the Richland County Sheriff's Office and the FBI Evidence Response team spent 13 days processing evidence from the scene which includes the house and six blocks of the affluent Florence neighborhood, WBTW reports.
More than 126 guns not believed to be used in the shooting were seized from the home for "safekeeping," Sheriff Lott said during the conference. Three other guns believed to be used in the shooting were seized from the house, including a pistol and two semi-automatic rifles.
A press release from the RCSO says about nine other agencies are providing assistance in the investigation, including the Columbia Police Department, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Police Department, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter Police Department, and the University of SC Department of Law Enforcement.
Four law enforcement officers remain in the hospital, according to the release. Three Florence County deputies are still in the hospital recovering from the incident. Two remain in critical condition, while the other one has been updated to stable condition. The City of Florence police officer has been transferred to a facility in Georgia.
Warrants for Frederick T. Hopkins, Jr. and Seth Hopkins were released on Wednesday. Frederick Hopkins, Jr., 74, is charged with six counts of attempted murder and one count of murder. Seth Hopkins, 27, is charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor victim 11 to 14 years of age. An additional child sex crime charge, criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, was filed for Seth Hopkins on Friday.
Deputies from the Florence County SO originally went to the home to serve an arrest warrant on Seth Hopkins when they came under fire and called for assistance from Florence officers.
More Patrol

Team Wendy App Creates New Digital Hub for Helmet Owners
The Team Wendy Community App provides one location for warranty registration, size-fit tools, product updates, and community connection. For helmet owners, the new app creates a simpler path to the information and tools that matter most.
Read More →
PositionPTT & Pryme Combine Communication Technologies to Deliver Distracted Driving Compliance
Pryme Radio Accessories and hardware/software maker PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free communications and ensure Department of Transportation compliance using an integrated system of push-to-talk platforms, devices, and audio equipment.
Read More →
Justice Department Releases $25M in Law Enforcement Grants & Resources
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has just released $25 million in new grant Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to support law enforcement. The recently released NOFOs include the Safer Outcomes: Enhancing Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement Program and other grant programs.
Read More →
What Makes a Laptop Rugged or Fully Rugged?
What separates a rugged laptop from a fully rugged one? In this video, two Panasonic Connect experts explain the military testing, IP ratings, durability standards, and real-world features that help law enforcement officers rely on their computers in any environment.
Read More →
Avon Technologies Appoints Vasilios Brachos as Team Wendy President
Longtime ballistic helmet leader Vasilios Brachos has been selected to guide the next chapter of protection, innovation, and growth at Team Wendy.
Read More →
Brinc Raises $125M to Put a 911 Response Drone on Every Police and Fire Station Roof
The latest round of funding, $125 million, can help fuel Brinc’s mission to deploy 911-response drones at the 80,000 police and fire stations across the United States.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement
Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.
Read More →
Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout
Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.
Read More →
Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight
Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.
Read More →
5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals
The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.
Read More →