Killing of Joe Webster Perkins Jr. in Alabama in 1948

Incident

Case summary

Joe Webster Perkins Jr., 33, a WWII veteran and a laborer, was killed in 1948 by police officers S.C. Newsome and W.J. Stevens in Birmingham, Alabama. Police officers came to the Alabama Machinery Company to investigate a complaint of a forcible entrance. The police said that Perkins was found inside the premises and was shot and killed during an alleged attempt to escape.

Victim(s):

Joe Webster Perkins Jr.


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

H. W. Brewer

James Albert Hale Jr.

J. M. Lawson

S. C. Newsome

W. J. Stephens

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1948-08-11
Location: Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: breaking and entering; attempting to escape police custody

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-1-121


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