Killing of Ernest Thomas in Florida in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Ernest Thomas, a veteran, was killed in 1949 by a “posse” of police officers in Perry, Taylor County, Florida. Thomas was hunted down and shot to death as one of four Black men accused of raping a young woman, and beating and robbing her husband. The alleged rape incident set off a reign of white mob violence against Black neighborhoods and businesses. Hundreds of Blacks were displaced.

Victim(s):

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

Date of incident: 1949-07-26
Location: Madison, Madison County, Florida
Location type: unknown - rural
Allegation against victim: committing rape

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

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

FBI case ID:

Miami 44-127

Bureau 44-4055

Mobile 44-457

St. Louis 44-107

Mobile 44-71

Miami 44-156

Miami 44-267

Savannah 44-526

New York 44-127

Bureau 44-2722

Boston 44-54

DOJ case ID:

144-18-68

144-18-117


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