Woman Posts Heartbreaking Tribute To Slain Trooper

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL — Nearly a week after Illinois State Trooper Nick Hopkins was fatally shot while serving a search warrant in East St. Louis, a resident shared the lasting impression Hopkins left on her when he came to her aid four years ago.

Hopkins, 33, died Friday after being shot while serving a warrant at a condominium building. A 45-year-old felon is charged in the murder of Hopkins, who leaves behind a wife and three children.

On Wednesday, Cynthia Stanley said she reactivated an old Facebook account to share her memory of Hopkins, who helped her in August 2015 after her vehicle ran out of gas.

Stanley said she was on the side of the highway when Hopkins stopped to help.

"He helped me by taking me to the gas station. During this event he smiled the entire time and talked about his newborn twins and being a doting husband," Stanley wrote. "He was excited about seeing his babies grow and being a husband to his wife. He shared some endearing moments and I never forgot him. I did the unpopular thing at the time and posted a picture that I took with him thanking him for his kindness."

Hopkins was she was working in the ER on Friday when she heard a coworker talking about a news report that a trooper had been shot.

"My heart about sunk and my first thought was please don't let it be him. Please don't let it be him ... It was him," Stanley wrote. "... His twins are now 4 years old and he and his wife had a new baby. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children as well as with the rest of the family. This is beyond my understanding. He was one of the good ones just making a living like the rest of us and building a legacy for his family."

Stanley shared photos of Hopkins filling up her car with gas and smiling in a photo with her.

Funeral services

Visitation for Hopkins is set for 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at Waterloo High School, 505 East Bulldog in Waterloo, Illinois. A first responder and military walk-through will begin at 6 p.m.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 at Waterloo High School. Interment services are still being finalized.

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

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.

A candlelight vigil is also set for Thursday in Waterloo.

Illinois State Police released a statement from Hopkins' family this week, saying in part, "Words cannot convey the pain of the loss and the emptiness in our hearts. Words also fail to describe the lasting impact Nick had on the lives of everyone who knew him. Nick was a son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, friend, carpenter, and trooper, but the job he loved most was being a husband and father. Nick will live on through the memories we cherish and in how we emulate his passion for life: 'You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.' It brings us comfort to know Nick’s legacy will live on by the actions of others."