Killing of James David Thomas in Alabama in 1949

Incident

Case summary

James Davis Thomas (1918 - 1949), a construction worker and WWII veteran, was killed by police officer J. T. Walthall in Birmingham, Alabama. Walthall shot Thomas allegedly because the victim resisted arrest and attempted to pull a knife. A coroner returned a finding of justifiable homicide.

Victim(s):

James David Thomas


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

J. T. Walthall

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-04-23
Location: Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: [ ]

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-1-121


Document(s):
death certificates
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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