Two police officers shot in an ambush attack and standoff in Florence, SC, have been released from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said at a press conference on Thursday.
According to WBTW-TV, one officer remains in the hospital in serious, but stable condition.
Three Florence County Sheriff’s deputies were also wounded in the ambush and standoff. The conditions of the deputies have not been released.
The shooter has been identified as 74-year-old Fred Hopkins, a disabled Vietnam veteran and disbarred lawyer who has faced several charges in recent years. Police had reportedly been called to the Hopkins residence dozens of times.
A total of 12 people were struck by gunfire during the incident on Wednesday—five civilians and seven law enforcement officers. One officer—Sergeant Terrence Carraway—was killed.
Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler said of Carraway, “He was a giant of a man, but he was the proverbial gentle giant, and I loved him. He was the epitome of a community police officer. He loved this community, he gave it his all. With more than 30 years, he didn’t have to do this job. But, this was his life, and this was what he wanted to do and serving Florence was his passion.”
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