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Former East St. Louis Man Convicted of Murdering Illinois State Trooper
Christopher R. Grant, 47, of East St. Louis, Illinois, has been convicted of six federal charges, including using a firearm to commit murder in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Grant faces the possibility of life without parole following his guilty plea in federal district court on [March 18, 2020].
The charges stem from the 2019 murder of Illinois State Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, 33, who was killed in the line of duty while attempting to execute a state search warrant at Grant’s house in East St. Louis. On August 23, 2019, Grant fired multiple shots at Trooper Hopkins and two other SWAT Team members, striking and killing the trooper.
Grant also pleaded guilty to distributing crack cocaine, maintaining a drug house, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges for possessing and using a firearm during a federal drug crime after Grant pleaded guilty to murder.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Grant was selling marijuana and crack cocaine from his home on North 42nd Street in East St. Louis. Officers conducted a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Grant and obtained a search warrant to search his house. The ISP SWAT Team was called in to help execute the warrant after it was learned that Grant had a cache of weapons inside.
Grant faced an 8-count indictment, charging him with distributing crack cocaine, maintaining a drug house, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a firearm to commit murder in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment was returned on March 18, 2020.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2021. The charge of using a firearm to commit murder in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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