Killing of Raymond McMurray in Alabama in 1944

Incident

Case summary

Raymond McMurray, 20, an army private, was killed in 1944 by Police Chief Fay Bowman and Chief Detective Jack Fisher on a highway near Pell City, St. Clair County, Alabama. McMurray had been charged with raping a white woman in Gadsden. He was arrested for the crime in Chattanooga, TN, where he was AWOL, and ultimately jailed in Gadsden, AL. The officers claimed to be transporting McMurray from the jail in Gadsden to a more secure jail in Birmingham when he was killed in their custody. McMurray, unarmed and handcuffed, was accused of attacking the driver, Sheriff O. P. Reagan. Bowman and Fisher shot and killed the soldier.

Victim(s):

Raymond McMurray


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Fay Bowman

Jack Fisher

O. P. Reagan

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1944-03-11
Location: Pell City, Saint Clair County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: raping a "prominent" white woman; attacking a police officer

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

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


Document(s):
news articles - closed
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