Killing of Willie Reed Jr. in Georgia in 1937

Incident

Case summary

Willie Reed Jr., 24, a turpentine worker, was killed in 1937 by unidentified deputies in Decatur County, Georgia. Reed was accused of murdering two women, Ruby Hurst and Venie Mase Richards. The police claimed that he confessed to the murders. Deputies shot Reed to death while they were taking him to an Albany jail, alleging that he attempted to escape. A mob of 200 men and women carried his body to a baseball park and burned it.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police, mob

Date of incident: 1937-05-25
Location: Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: murdering two white women; attempting to escape arrest

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: [ ]
Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

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


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