Killing of Willie Lee Davis in Georgia in 1943

Incident

Case summary

Pvt. Willie Lee Davis (1917 - 1943) was killed by Police Chief James Mitchell Bohannon while on leave in Emanuel County, Georgia. Bohannon had been called to a roadhouse to restore order. There, he shot and killed Davis, who was in uniform. Bohannan tried to search Davis, who protested. The DOJ filed criminal charges against Bohannon but the case was later dropped. Willie Davis’s mother dedicated years to vindicating her son’s death.

Victim(s):

Willie Lee Davis


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

James M. Bohannon Sr.

James Mitchell Bohannon Jr.

Willie Brown

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1943-07-03
Location: Twin City, Emanuel County, Georgia
Location type: private space - commercial
Allegation against victim: [ ]

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Charlotte 44-39

New York 44-85

Savannah 44-22

Bureau File 44-940

DOJ case ID:

144-1-17

144-20-9


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
census records - closed
correspondence
court records
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
portraits
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