Larry Verne Crabtree

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch April 4, 1977

Age 43

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 294

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Trooper Larry Crabtree was shot and killed after stopping a car for running a tollgate on the Turner Turnpike about three miles west of Bristow. While approaching the vehicle, the juvenile driver turned in the seat and shot Trooper Crabtree at point-blank range with a shotgun. Witnesses notified other troopers via CB, and the suspect was apprehended approximately 14 miles away. The 16-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, but the sentence was later reduced to life in prison. He was denied parole in February 2005. Trooper Crabtree had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-F5198E88
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Larry. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Crabtree gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Crabtree.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 1977

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 43

Badge Number 294

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender traffic stop

Trooper Larry Verne Crabtree is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

of 39 officers

48.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious