Killing of Willie Henry in Arkansas in 1946

Incident

Case summary

Willie Henry (1907-1946), a tractor driver and physically and mentally disabled WWII veteran, was killed by police officer Jones in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. According to a letter from Henry’s brother James to the NAACP, Henry got into a dispute over bus fare, for which he was struck to the ground by a white man wielding a pipe. As Henry was being helped to his feet by a white man and a Black man, he grew frightened, ran, and hid in a concrete ditch. Officers Jones and J.C. White arrived at the scene and ordered him out of the ditch, verbally and by firing warning shots. Henry refused to leave the ditch, saying he didn’t want to be beaten. Jones then fired the fatal shot.

Victim(s):

Willie Henry


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

[given name unknown] Jones

J. C. White

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1946-07-31
Location: Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas
Location type: public conveyance
Allegation against victim: arguing over bus fare; throwing rocks at 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):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
news articles - closed
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