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‘Bravest police officer’ shot dead in South Carolina identified, 6 other cops wounded: Officials
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The South Carolina police officer who was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon by a gunman who also wounded six other officers has been identified.

Authorities identified the fallen officer as 52-year-old Florence city police officer Terrence Carraway, of Darlington, who had recently been honored for 30 years of service, USA Today reports.

Carraway was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and an autopsy is expected to be performed Thursday, according to WPDE.

“Please pray for these officers and their speedy recovery,” Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler tearfully stated.

“Pray for the family who lost the bravest police officer that I have ever known.”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, a total of seven officers were shot in a confrontation with a suspect who held children hostage at a Florence County residence, and subsequently fired on deputies who attempted to serve a search warrant.

The suspect was identified by Florence County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Glenn Kirby as 74-year-old Fred Hopkins, who resided at the upscale home on Ashton Drive where the incident occurred, WMBF reports.

Hopkins surrendered to authorities after a two-hour standoff, and released the children unharmed as he was taken into custody. He is under arrest at a local hospital after suffering a head injury during the confrontation.

The Associated Press described Hopkins as a disbarred lawyer “who has been charged several times in recent years, starting with a 2014 count of disorderly conduct.”

Kirby reportedly said authorities were “executing a search warrant for an unnamed person in relation to an alleged sexual assault of a minor who was a foster child in the home” when the suspect opened fire.

Deputies said the intended suspect in the sexual assault allegation, a 27-year-old man, was also shot at the scene. His condition was not known at the time of publishing.

“Officers went there unknowing the firepower the suspect had,” Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said at a news conference. “Fire was being shot all over. The way this suspect was positioned, his view of fire was several hundred yards. So he had an advantage. The officers couldn’t get to the ones who were down.”

“This is simply devastating news from Florence,” Gov. Henry McMaster said on Twitter. “The selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement is real, just like the power of prayer is real.”

Authorities have not yet identified the wounded officers or described their conditions.

[Feature photo: Terrence Carraway/Facebook]