On the cold and snowy evening of January 14, 1982, Memphis Police Patrolman Larry P. Childress, a 39-year-old white male, responded to a call that would end his 14 years of service to the city. He and his partner arrived at a residence in the 5600 block of Shady Grove Road, where a home invasion robbery was in progress. Two suspects, posing as police officers, had gained entry to the home, tied up the occupants, and were in the process of robbing them when one of the victims managed to break
free and call for help.
Upon their arrival, the officers split up to cover more ground. While his partner approached the front door, Childress went to the side of the house. It was there that he encountered the two armed suspects. A gun battle erupted, and Childress was fatally wounded. The suspects fled the scene, but a swift and extensive police response led to their capture, along with a third accomplice who was waiting in a getaway car, within a short period.
The three men, aged 46, 36, and 32, were all convicted of robbery and the murder of Patrolman Childress. Each was sentenced to life in prison. Over the years, the scales of justice continued to move. The oldest of the three convicts died while incarcerated. Another was eventually paroled after being denied in 2003. The third and final suspect was granted parole and released in 2019, closing a chapter on a case that had begun with a tragic loss decades earlier. Larry P. Childress, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was remembered for his dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
