Killing of Hayes Kinney in Alabama in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Hayes Kinney, about 43, a Pullman car factory worker, was killed in 1949 while in police custody in Birmingham, Alabama. Police said he was arrested once on charges of drunkenness and of assault and battery. It was alleged that Kinney fought two officers who were taking him to the warden’s office when Kinney and one of the officers fell down the stairs. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Hayes Kinney


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Quinton Barnes

Lawton Grimes Jr.

John P. Helton

John F. Mims

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-04-04
Location: Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: resisting arrest; firing a shotgun into a Black family's home

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

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

144-1-0

144-1-64


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