Killing of Henry Lee in Alabama in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Henry Lee (1910 - 1949), a farmer, was killed by officer K.W. Jones in Montgomery, Alabama. Jones and another officer, D. H. Lackey arrived on the scene of a disturbance in which Lee and three other Black men were involved. Jones claimed that Lee fled while being searched and alleged he shot at Jones. Officer Jones then killed Lee. Eyewitnesses contradicted Jones’ account, recalling that Lee was killed in Jones’ police vehicle and that he had no weapon. A coroner returned a finding of justifiable homicide.

Victim(s):

Henry Lee


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

K. W. Jones

D. H. Lackey

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-05-08
Location: Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: exhibiting drunkenness; creating a public disturbance; fleeing arrest

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):
federal agency records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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