Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Lawrence O'Neal was shot and killed by one of five suspects who were planning to rob a local bank. In preparation for the robbery the five went to the police station in order to tie Patrolman O'Neal up to prevent him from responding to the robbery. Patrolman O'Neal resisted their efforts and began struggling with the men. One of the men obtained his service revolver and shot him. The suspects placed Patrolman O'Neal's body in one of the jail cells, where it was discovered the following day by another officer reporting to duty. The suspects fled the scene without ever having robbed the bank. On May 2, 1961, Four 47, 49, 53, and 61 were apprehended in Columbus. All four were charged with Patrolman O'Neal's murder. On July 10, 1961, all four were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The fifth suspect, 42, who said he was the gunman, was in federal custody in Springfield, Missouri. He was to stand trial for murder with the others, but was too sick with tuberculosis. He was eventually sent to prison where he died on May 31, 1967. On July 12, 1968, the youngest of the four was grabbed by three fellow inmates, doused with lighter fluid, and set on fire. Four days later he died from his burns as he was being interviewed at a hospital in Augusta by Governor Lester G. Maddox. The inmate was to be released soon, after it was discovered he did not participate in Patrolman O'Neal's murder, but was in the get-away car the entire time. Another of the five escaped on June 2, 1968, and was captured on March 15, 1971. The oldest of the five was paroled on August 9, 1968, and died five months later.
Survivors
Patrolman O'Neal, a widower, was survived by his five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-8AA22405- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Neal gave the Doerun Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Doerun community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Neal.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Lawrence M. "Bud" O'Neal is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lawrence M. "Bud" O'Neal's cause is highlighted.
How Lawrence M. "Bud" O'Neal Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lawrence M. "Bud" O'Neal is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lawrence M. "Bud" O'Neal was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Doerun Police Department are honored on badge.nw.