Killing of Charlie Louis Howard in Alabama in 1950

Incident

Case summary

Charlie Louis Howard, 26, a truck driver for an electrical contractor and WWII veteran, was killed in 1950 by police officer J.E. Lambert in Birmingham, Alabama. Lambert shot Howard in the chest in an alley behind a restaurant after Howard objected to Lambert’s use of a racial slur. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Charlie Louis Howard


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

J. S. Isbell

M. R. Kirkland

Jesse E. Lambert

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1950-03-18
Location: Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: being involved in a domestic dispute in public; protesting at being called the n-word by a police officer; attacking a police officer with a brick

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-1-121


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