Tpr. Larry L. Forreider was shot to death near Alpena, Michigan, after he and his partner had stopped a vehicle for defective tail lights.
Trooper Forreider, the driver of the patrol car, approached the driver side of the suspect vehicle as his partner approached the passenger side. Trooper Forreider’s partner then advised him that he had seen a gun in the car. The occupants were ordered out of the vehicle. Two of the occupants exited on the passenger’s side and were being searched when two shots rang out from the driver’s side of the car. Trooper Forreider fell back from the car, having been mortally wounded by the driver who had obtained a second weapon from within the vehicle.
Although he was to die where he fell, Trooper Forredier returned fire at his assailant, but his shots were ineffective. The other officer captured the two passengers, wounding one of them. The murderer escaped, only to take his own life in a remote portion of Alpena County as pursuing troopers closed in on him. The three were wanted for safe burglaries, as well as other felonies, both in and out of the state of Michigan.
Trooper Forreider was the 30th MSP officer to die in the line of duty.