Killing of Thomas P. Foster in Arkansas in 1942

Incident

Case summary

Thomas P. Foster (1918? – 1942), a US Army sergeant, was killed by city police officer Abner J. Hay in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Witnessing the assault of off-duty Black soldiers by civilian and military police, Foster tried to intervene, but was beaten unconscious by police. As he lay on the ground, Hay shot him five times at point-blank range. Federal grand jury declined to indict, possibly because Hay had subsequently been inducted into the Army. Attorney General Francis Biddle wrote to Secretary of War Henry L. Stinson that Hay’s actions warranted his discharge from the Army. Stinson declined to act.

Victim(s):

Thomas P. Foster


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Abner J. Hay

George Henson

Little E. Owen

Albert W. Rainwater

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1942-03-22
Location: Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: arguing with military police against turning Albert Glover, who had been arrested for drunkenness, over to the city police; resisting arrest

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-9-6


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