Killing of Walter Lee Johnson in Georgia in 1946

Incident

Case summary

Walter Lee Johnson, 22, a laborer and WWII veteran, was killed in 1946 by W. D. Lee, a streetcar operator while on a streetcar in Atlanta, Georgia. Newspaper accounts of the shooting varied. One version described that Johnson was shot while in a scuffle with the operator. A local magistrate declined to pursue charges against the driver, W.D. Lee.. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Walter Lee Johnson


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

W. D. Lee

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1946-09-29
Location: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Location type: public conveyance
Allegation against victim: having an altercation with a white man

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates
news articles - closed
state agency records
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