Killing of Frank Cooks in Mississippi in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Frank Cooks (1916 - 1949), a plumber, was killed by police officers W.C. Dempsey and L. M. McCool in Bolivar County, Mississippi. The police claimed that Cooks, who had been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and annoying a white woman on the phone, was being transported to the county jail when he allegedly broke from police custody and ran. Both Dempsey and McCool shot at Cooks, killing him.

Victim(s):

Frank Cooks


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

W. C. Dempsey

L. McCool

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-05-23
Location: Cleveland, Bolivar County, Mississippi
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: "talking love" to a white female telephone operator; assaulting a white woman; attempting to escape

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:

144-40-26


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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