Killing of Aaron Herman Schunell Dixon in Georgia in 1944

Incident

Case summary

Aaron Herman Schunell Dixon (1926 - 1944) was killed by police officer V. H. Whittley in Atlanta, Georgia. Whittley and another officer, Polk, entered a Black housing complex on a gambling raid. Dixon, 17 years old at the time, was not taking part in the gaming. He was said to have been running from the scene when he was shot in the back. Whittley alleged that Dixon advanced on him with a knife. Alonzo Moran, former president of Hampton Institute and then associated with Atlanta University, sought to secure justice for the Dixon family. A grand jury declined to indict the officers.

Victim(s):

Aaron Herman Schunell Dixon


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

[given name unknown] Pope

V. H. Whittley

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1944-04-16
Location: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Location type: private space - commercial
Allegation against victim: watching a craps game

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

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: no
Grand jury: yes
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

DOJ case ID:

144-19-31

144-57-7


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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