Killing of Rufus Johnson in Georgia in 1951

Incident

Case summary

Rufus Johnson (1917 - 1951), a WWII Navy veteran, was killed by police officers James Bell and Amos Martin in Decatur County, Georgia. Johnson went to buy alcohol from a white neighbor. He knocked at the woman’s front door. Someone from within shot through the window, missing Johnson. The police came to arrest him at his home. Johnson asked what the charge against him was. The police officers beat him and then shot him.

Victim(s):

Rufus Johnson


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

James Bell

Amos Martin

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1951-12-05
Location: Bainbridge, Decatur County, Georgia
Location type: victim's home
Allegation against victim: resisting arrest; knocking on the door of a white woman's house; buying illegal liquor

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-19M-0


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