Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Russell Harper was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for speeding. The man exited his truck and opened fire with an automatic weapon, killing Trooper Harper before he could exit his cruiser. Over 25 shots were fired at Trooper Harper's patrol car. The suspect, a convicted felon with a long history of arrests and convictions, was arrested two days later. He was executed on April 4, 1998, for the murder of Trooper Harper. Trooper Harper had been with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and a stepdaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-A60EC06F- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Harper gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Harper.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Russell Wynn Harper 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Missouri State Highway Patrol, 13 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell Wynn Harper's cause is highlighted.
How Russell Wynn Harper Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1998
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Russell Wynn Harper is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Russell Wynn Harper was killed by rifle; semi-automatic.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Missouri State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
