Killing of Henry Wright in Mississippi

Incident

Case summary

Henry Wright was killed by Levette Yates in or before 1934 in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Accounts of the incident varied. According to a newspaper clipping, Jail Deputy G. T. Thomas was attempting to arrest Wright on a charge of stealing when Wright attempted to escape. Thomas deputized Yates to continue the arrest. Yates shot Wright, alleging self-defense. An account by M. S. Stuart, President of the Memphis NAACP, stated that Yates accused Wright of stealing bricks, which Wright denied, and the two had an argument. Yates assembled a group of men and ran Wright down into a ditch where they shot him.

Victim(s):

Henry Wright


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals: [ ]
Perpetrator group type: mob

Date of incident: on or before 1934-02-02
Location: Hernando, De Soto County, Mississippi
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: stealing bricks; resisting arrest

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: [ ]
Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
news articles - closed
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