Mounted Guard Charles Lloyd Hopkins

Charles Lloyd Hopkins

Mounted Guard Charles Hopkins and Quarantine Guard Ira Hill, of the United States Public Health Service, were shot and killed while patrolling the shoreline of the Rio Grand River with other mounted guards and health officers from the United States Public Health Service about seven miles from Laredo in Webb County, Texas.

The federal officers witnessed four Mexicans in a boat land on the American side of the border near where the officers were hiding in the chaparral brush. The other officers were about 15 feet away. When one of the officers called upon the men to halt, the suspects opened fire with rifles and revolvers. Mounted Guard Hopkins was hit with a bullet in the right side, exiting the left side of his back. Another officer shot the suspect who had mortally wounded Hopkins.

The other officers were involved in a gun battle with two suspects still, and fatally shot both. The fourth suspect was shot and killed while firing on officers from the water.

Mounted Guard Hopkins was brought to Mercy Hospital in Laredo and died at 1:00 am on Friday, May 9, 1919. He served with the agency for seven years. He was married but it is unknown if he had any children. He is buried in Exchange, West Virginia.

Quarantine Guard Hill died on June 1, 1919 from his wounds. Three years later, US Customs Inspector Robert Rumsey, Jr., was killed in the line of duty on August 19, 1922 near Laredo.