COLLINSVILLE, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly announced Friday the line-of-duty death of ISP South SWAT Trooper Nicholas Hopkins.

Friday morning (8/23/19) around 5:26 a.m., Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, #6141 and other ISP Troopers were executing a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of North 42nd Street in East Saint Louis.

There was an exchange of gunfire at the residence, and Trooper Hopkins was struck. He was taken to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. He passed away at approximately 6:10 P.M.

“It is with profound heartache and unfathomable sadness that we inform you of the death of Trooper Nicholas Hopkins. Trooper Hopkins laid down his life while protecting the citizens of this state. We are asking the public to respectfully give consideration to the family of Trooper Hopkins and the ISP while we continue to grieve and work through this tragedy,” stated Acting Director Brendan Kelly.

Trooper Hopkins was 33 years old and a 10-year veteran of the Illinois State Police. 

A post on the Clark County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page said that Sheriff Bill Brown and the staff of the department knew Trooper Hopkins as he previously lived in Casey and Marshall and worked very closely with their department.