Suspect In SC Officers Shooting Identified As 74-Year-Old Disbarred Attorney

[mercuryblues]

Source: WFMY

Florence, SC (WLTX, AP) - The man accused of killing a South Carolina officer and wounding six others has been identified.
Multiple media outlets state Chief Deputy Glenn Kirby told reporters the suspect is 74-year-old Frederick Hopkins. Hopkins is currently still at the hospital, and reportedly has a head injury and isn't able to speak to officers. WPDE reports Hopkins fell at the scene.


https://heavy.com/news/2018/10/fred-hopkins-frederick-cheryl-florence/

Read more: https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/crime/suspect-in-sc-officers-shooting-identified-as-74-year-old-disbarred-attorney/83-600752510

[bronxiteforever]

1. Kick and recommend for visibility

[mercuryblues]

2. thanks

Just as some here speculated.

White male, with high up community connections. The wife's FB page is scrubbed clean.

[sofa king]

3. Oh man, this one has "weird" all over it.

[mercuryblues]

6. Don't let it fool you

The guy has a privileged background and lifestyle. His wife is a prominent divorce attn. in the county.

Don't let the disabled vet change the narrative. The police were there to serve a search warrant on his 27 year old son's room. He chose to lay in wait and ambush the police. Did his wife get wind of the warrant and tip him off? Or perhaps the cops, themselves? There are several police officers in his family, from what I have read.

[recentevents]

4. With out even seeing a picture of him

you know he's white. Just by the news coverage. Poor old white guy. That black man startled him, thought he was trying to break in the house to rob him.
So when do we find out weed was found in the dead officers apartment?

[raccoon]

5. Hopkins won't be ready to talk to officers until he's lawyered up. Nt

[UpInArms]

7. RWGN

Hopkins sometimes wrote about weaponry. “This is my rifle…….. this one is my gun. This one was built just for me and this one was for fun!” he wrote in one Facebook post.

In another post, he wrote, “The day after my 70th birthday, I took my 12 year old son to my favorite rifle range in Lexington County SC for the monthly service rifle match. It showered all day and I fired my M-14 rifle by Federal Ordnance in 7.62mm NATO. The rifle is set up exactly like one I used in Viet Nam in 69-70. I scored 338-0X’s and had a blast! I have been shooting competitively since 1984 and lovin’ it. I just love the smell of gunpowder in the mornin’s. The guys at the range sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me — gosh, it doesn’t get any better.”

[Sancho]

8. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.