Patrolman Lawrence Canipe Jr.
North Carolina Highway Patrol
North Carolina
End of Watch: Saturday, October 5, 1974
Cause: Gunfire

Biographical Info
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: G-449

Patrolman Canipe and Sergeant W. Dean Arledge were shot and killed in the basement of the Buncombe County Courthouse. Sergeant Arledge was assisting Patrolman Canipe administer a breathalyzer test when the suspect was able to gain control of one of the officers' handguns and shoot them both. The suspect was apprehended the next day by a deputy sheriff in Asheville.

The suspect was convivted of two counts of first degree murder on March 28, 1975, and sentenced to two life terms. He died in prison on September 5, 1995.

Patrolman Canipe had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his parents.