Killing of Ed Craig in Alabama in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Ed Craig, 71, a yard worker, was shot and killed in 1949 by police officer John P. Helton in Jefferson County, Alabama. Also present was police officer Quinton H. Barnes. Police claimed that Craig was standing on the porch of his white neighbor’s home, that Craig was holding a shotgun, and that he refused to drop the shotgun when ordered to do so. A witness named Emmett Ray initially disputed that the police had issued warnings to drop the shotgun. Ray later recanted his statement. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Ed Craig


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Quinton Barnes

John P. Helton

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-04-01
Location: Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama
Location type: private space - domestic
Allegation against victim: holding a shotgun and refusing to put it down; assaulting a police officer

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

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

FBI case ID:

Birmingham 44-154

Birmingham 44-153

DOJ case ID:

144-1-121

144-1-64


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