In the line of duty, 51-year-old Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Billy G. Young was killed on May 26, 1978. He, along with two other officers, Trooper Houston 'Pappy' Summers, 62, and Second Lieutenant James Pat Grimes, 37, were actively searching for two escaped convicts who were wanted for a string of murders committed during their multi-state flight from justice.
Troopers Young and Summers were patrolling a county road near Kenefic when they encountered the suspects, who were in a
stolen truck. A fierce gun battle erupted, and both troopers were fatally wounded. The escapees had managed to get the jump on the seasoned officers, ending their dedicated careers in a hail of gunfire.
Shortly after the initial confrontation, Lieutenant Grimes and his partner were guided into the area by aircraft to assist in the search. They, too, were ambushed by the heavily armed fugitives. In the ensuing shootout, Lieutenant Grimes was killed, and his partner sustained injuries. The violent spree of the two escapees was brought to a bloody end later that same day when they were confronted by other officers in Caddo. Both suspects were shot and killed at the scene, concluding a tragic chapter in Oklahoma law enforcement history. Trooper Young had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 25 years.
