James Walter Oliver (1919 – 1945), an employee at a dairy facility, was killed by police officers in Chatham County, Georgia. A white man named Elmer Groves was walking down the street with an unnamed white woman. As Oliver passed them, he and Groves bumped into each other. An argument ensued. Groves ran to a telephone and the woman screamed that she had been attacked. When the police arrived, they beat and shot Oliver, alleging that he resisted arrest and sought to run away.

James Walter Oliver

Elmer Groves