SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Greenville County
Friday, May 17, 2024
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Greenville County.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) and agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were attempting to apprehend James Edgar Hopkins, 51, for outstanding warrants. Officers located Hopkins at a hotel on Wade Hampton Boulevard in Greenville. Officers attempted to apprehend Hopkins outside the hotel. During the encounter, Hopkins was armed with a knife. Officers discharged Tasers and a bean bag gun at Hopkins, who stabbed a GCSO K9 and ran into a nearby Bank of America parking lot. GCSO deputies discharged their firearms, striking Hopkins. Hopkins was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment. The GCSO K9 was transported to an animal hospital for treatment. No officers were injured during the incident.
SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing. No other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Greenville County was the 16th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 2nd officer involved shooting for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year. In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had 3 officer involved shootings last year.
