Killing of Denice Harris in Georgia in 1945

Incident

Case summary

Denice Harris, 22, a Pullman porter and WWII veteran, was killed in 1945 by police officers Earl E. Peppers and Charles Wheeler, and by Edward Greer, a white man, in Atlanta, Georgia. Harris was riding in a car with his friend Charles Johnson when he was shot and killed. A white woman, Mrs. Greer, reported to the police that Johnson had made improper advances on her. The two police officers and Greer, her husband, ambushed and shot at the car that Johnson and Harris were in, killing Harris.

Victim(s):

Denice Harris


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

W. L. Creel

Edward Greer

R. W. Moore

R. W. Moore

Earl E. Peppers

Charles Wheeler

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1945-05-11
Location: College Park, Fulton County, Georgia
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: driving a white woman to meet a white man for an illicit affair

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

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


Civil lawsuits/claims filed: yes

Document(s):
death certificates - closed
news articles - closed
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