EAST ST. LOUIS – Christopher Grant woke up shooting at his front door by reflex and didn’t intentionally kill state trooper Nick Hopkins, according to a stipulation for a guilty plea he entered on July 9.
Trooper Hopkins died on Aug. 23, 2019, at St. Louis University Hospital.
The stipulation stated that in an interview, “Grant said that he did not know who was on his porch, but he feared whoever it was might be planning to rob him, so he picked up his gun and shot towards the sound of the person.”
The stipulation stated that Grant explained that about two weeks earlier, people broke in a side door and stole $300, a necklace, and marijuana.
“He said that after he fired his gun he learned that police were outside.”
Prosecutors propose a sentence between 24 and 30 years, and Grant proposes a sentence between 20 and 24 years.
Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel set sentencing on Nov. 9.
According to a background section of the stipulation, state police received information that Grant sold crack cocaine and marijuana from his home at 1424 N. 42nd Street in East St. Louis.
The source reported seeing many firearms inside.
State police provided $170 to the source, who paid $120 for 2.3 grams of crack and $50 for 6.1 grams of marijuana on July 9, 2019.
State police then provided $110 to the source, who found Grant in his Cadillac sport utility vehicle on July 18.
Grant waved the source over and delivered 2.1 grams of crack.
State police then provided $100 to the source, who paid $60 for 1.1 grams of crack and $40 for 3.5 grams of marijuana on Aug. 21.
The source saw cocaine in plain view and firearms in close proximity.
A St. Clair County judge signed a warrant the next day, according to a section of the stipulation on the search.
State police chose to raid the place a day later, just before dawn.
They couldn’t enter easily because steel bars protected the door, so they decided to yank the bars away with the power of a Ford F350 diesel pickup truck.
Hopkins and two other officers connected chains to the truck’s front hitch and pulled the chains to the steel bars.
Hopkins connected his chain and turned to walk down the steps.
Grant fired his Glock pistol three times, and Hopkins fell.
Officers carried him down the steps while others returned fire to cover them.
Officers found six pistols, a revolver, and a rifle in the house.
According to a section of the stipulation on Grant’s statements, he said he sold crack and marijuana at all times of the day and night.
He admitted selling crack to support his own habit.
He estimated that he bought a quarter ounce, about seven grams, once a week.
He said he used three grams and sold the rest.
Attorneys Preston Humphrey and David Bruns represent Grant by court appointment.
U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft and his assistant Ali Summers represent the U.S.