In what was described as a calculated ambush, Florence County Sheriff's Investigator Farrah Turner, a 36-year-old female, was mortally wounded on October 3, 2018. The 12-year law enforcement veteran was part of a team of deputies who arrived at a home in Florence, South Carolina, to serve a search warrant related to a sexual assault investigation involving the suspect's son.
As the officers approached the residence, they were met with a barrage of gunfire from a second-story window.
The shooter, 74-year-old Frederick Hopkins, a disbarred attorney, had positioned himself in a way that gave him a tactical advantage, firing on the unsuspecting officers with a rifle. Turner was struck in the abdomen, sustaining severe injuries. In the ensuing chaos, which lasted for two hours and involved the exchange of more than 400 rounds of ammunition, six other law enforcement officers were also shot. Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway was killed at the scene.
For 19 days, Investigator Turner fought for her life in the hospital. She endured numerous surgeries, including the amputation of both of her feet, as her family and the community held onto hope. Despite the extensive medical efforts, Farrah Turner succumbed to her injuries on October 22, 2018, becoming the second officer to die as a result of the tragic shooting. Her dedication to her profession was widely noted, with many describing her as a committed officer who excelled at her work and was devoted to serving victims of heinous crimes.
Following the lengthy standoff, Frederick Hopkins was taken into custody. He was initially charged with murder for the death of Sgt. Carraway and multiple counts of attempted murder. After Turner's death, an additional murder charge was filed against him. His son, Seth Hopkins, the subject of the initial investigation, was also arrested on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. In October 2023, to avoid the death penalty, Frederick Hopkins pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. He was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole.
