2nd Man Charged In Connection With ISP Trooper's Murder

ILLINOIS — A 45-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Illinois State Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, and a second man faces gun and drug charges. Hopkins, a SWAT operator and 10-year state police veteran, was serving a search warrant at a residence in East St. Louis Friday morning when he was shot.

Hopkins, a married father of three, was pronounced dead hours later at a regional hospital.

State police announced charges over the weekend against Chris R. Grant, who is being held on $5 million bond at the St. Clair County jail on charges of first-degree murder. A second resident of the duplex where Hopkins was shot, 19-year-old Al Stewart Jr., also faces firearms charges and drug charges in connection with the incident.

On Friday, hours after Hopkins was shot, state police said at least three people had been arrested in connection with the shooting, but as of Tuesday, only Grant and Stewart had been charged.

Grant has a criminal history in St. Clair County, where he was convicted in 2003 for the manufacture, delivery and possession of narcotics near a school, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. Jail records say his last court appearance in St. Clair County was in April 2015 and he was booked into the facility just before 1 a.m. Saturday.

Stewart is charged with armed violence and two in-state warrants and has also been in custody since Saturday. His bond amount was listed at over $10 million, and according to jail records, he has hold orders and cannot be bonded out. The St. Clair County state’s attorney said Stewart hid a .40 caliber Glock after the shooting and is also accused of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Hopkins was the fourth state trooper killed in the line of duty this year. Three other troopers were killed in vehicle crashes.

On Monday, Hopkins' body was returned via a police procession to his hometown of Waterloo, Illinois.

Late Friday, the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation Memorial Park glowed with purple lights in his honor, and his state police vehicle was decorated with flowers and messages of love.

Over the weekend, ISP warned well-meaning residents of fundraising scams and said the only way to guarantee donations are going to Hopkins' family is to donate via the ISP Heritage Foundation website and leave a note in the comments saying "Trooper Nick Hopkins Memorial Fund," or send donations via U.S. mail to Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 8168, Springfield, Illinois 62791.

"As most of you already know, the Illinois State Police suffered an untimely and tragic line of duty death of SWAT Operator Trooper Nicholas Hopkins," Lt. Col. David Byrd, ISP assistant deputy director, said. "In the nearly 100 year history of the Illinois State Police, we have NEVER lost four troopers in one year and this is the first loss of a SWAT operator in the 20-year history of ISP SWAT. But know this, our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is NOT. We will continue to serve the people of this great state with an unwavering determination to pursue justice with all of our might."