East St. Louis man pleads guilty to 2019 murder of Illinois State Trooper Nick Hopkins

Christopher R. Grant, charged in the 2019 killing of Illinois State Police Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, pleaded guilty to murder in federal court Friday.

Hopkins, 33, who was a sergeant with the Illinois State Police SWAT team, was hit by gunfire while attempting to execute a no-knock search warrant at a duplex at 1426 N. 42nd St. near Caseyville Avenue in East St. Louis on Aug. 23, 2019. He died in St. Louis University Hospital later that day.

The 10-year state police veteran was a 2004 graduate of Waterloo High School and resident of the Monroe County town. He is survived by his wife, Whitney, twins Evelyn and Owen and a daughter, Emma.

In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Grant, 46, also pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing crack cocaine, maintaining a drug-involved premise and two counts of using a firearm to commit second-degree murder to further a drug trafficking crime.

He is facing life in prison with a fine of $50,000 to $500,000. Grant also still faces trial on a 10-count indictment that includes first-degree murder in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

A shooting and standoff

Illinois State Police went to the East St. Louis address where Grant was known to be staying in the early-morning hours of Aug. 23 to execute the no-knock warrant. They were acting on a confidential informant who reported that Grant was selling crack cocaine and marijuana and that he maintained an arsenal of firearms.

Three weeks prior to the shooting, state police agents gave their confidential source $170 to buy cocaine and marijuana from Grant.

“During the transaction, the source saw a large amount of crack cocaine in plain display. During the illegal transaction, Grant protected himself with a 9 mm handgun, an AK-style rifle and an AR-15 style rifle that were in close proximity to where Grant was conducting the transaction,” federal prosecutors said.

On the morning of Aug. 23, East St. Louis Police and Illinois State Police tactical units and SWAT team members swarmed the street at the front of the duplex. Hopkins and other officers were reportedly on the front porch to serve the warrant when gunfire from the inside struck Hopkins in the head.

Three people, Grant included, were arrested at the scene. A day-long standoff ensued in the belief that a fourth suspect was holed up inside the building. Concussion bombs, smoke and water from a fire hose were used to clear the building, but no other suspects were identified.

Hopkins’ death at St. Louis University Hospital was announced at 6:10 p.m. that evening.

According to the federal complaint, police recovered 12 marijuana plants and supplies for maintaining them, 35 joints, unrolled marijuana and a large cache of weapons from the duplex, including Stewart’s .40 caliber Glock pistol that police connected forensically to a double homicide on Oct. 3, 2018, in East St. Louis and two other non-fatal shootings.

Grant’s family told the BND that he was asleep when police entered the duplex and that he thought he was firing on someone attempting to break in.

Grant was represented in federal court by attorney Preston Humphrey Jr. and David Bruns. Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali S. Summers prosecuted the case.

“From the first hours of this investigation, the U.S. attorney’s office has pledged to vigorously pursue justice for Trooper Hopkins and his family,” Weinhoeft said in a statement. “Today’s conviction is an important step toward keeping that solemn promise. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family and we will work to continue to honor his sacrifice.”

State trial still pending

A spokesman for St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric’s office released a statement regarding the federal court verdict.

“We appreciate the diligent efforts of our federal counterparts with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Illinois. Mr. Grant is still under a 10-count indictment, including first-degree murder in St. Clair County. For that reason, we are withholding further comment until Mr. Grant faces the allegations in our jurisdiction,” the statement said.

A co-defendant in the shooting, Al Stewart Jr., 21, has pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully using a controlled substance while in possession of a gun and is scheduled to be sentenced in the circuit court on Aug. 23, which would be two years from the day Hopkins was shot. Stewart already has been sentenced to four years on federal charges.

This story was originally published July 9, 2021 at 11:58 AM.