Killing of Newt Walker in Louisiana in 1950

Incident

Case summary

Newt Walker (1909-1950), a laborer and WWII veteran, was killed by police officer H.F. Pittman in Mansfield, Louisiana. A letter from Anna Hymes, Walker’s mother, says that Walker’s car had broken down. He sought assistance at a white man’s house. The man struck Walker, rendering him unconscious, and called the police. The man and the officer put Walker in the police car, and Pittman drove away and then shot him. The authorities dispute this account, saying that Walker was arrested for drunkenness, and Pittman shot Walker in self-defense.

Victim(s):

Newt Walker


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

H. F. Pittman

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1950-05-14
Location: Mansfield, De Soto Parish, Louisiana
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: exhibiting drunkenness; attacking a police officer; resisting arrest

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

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

FBI case ID:

New Orleans 44-310

DOJ case ID:

144-33-55


Document(s):
census records - closed
death certificates
federal agency records
military documents - closed
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