Killing of Miles Smith Sr. in Florida in 1948

Incident

Case summary

Miles Smith was killed in 1948 by Constable Albert Oliver Sistrunk in Greenville, Madison County, Florida. Sistrunk and his brother Sam were cruising through the Black neighborhood in Greenville one night when they saw Smith drunk and staggering in the road. Sistrunk claimed that Smith was wielding a knife and that he shot in self-defense. Others disputed the presence of a knife. Trial jury acquitted. Weeks later, Sistrunk was accused of killing another Black man named Simon Johnson.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1948-11-13
Location: Greenville, Madison County, Florida
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: exhibiting public drunkenness; attacking a police officer with a knife

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

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: yes
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: no
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Miami 44-113

DOJ case ID:

144-18-87


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
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