Killing of Carter O. Boyd in Texas in 1950

Incident

Case summary

Carter Owens Boyd (1915 - 1950), a laborer and disabled WWII veteran, was killed by Wash J. Howard, Jr., a deputy constable in Houston, Texas. Howard shot Boyd twice in the back following a minor traffic accident. Boyd was traveling in his vehicle with his 15-year-old son and his wife; the family was inspecting a lot they hoped to purchase when the accident occurred. Boyd’s employers complained to the local district attorney about the killing. Howard was charged with murder. Trial jury convicted.

Victim(s):

Carter O. Boyd


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Wash J. Howard Jr.

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1950-03-11
Location: Houston, Harris County, Texas
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: dispute with a police officer after an automobile accident

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

Criminal process
Arrest: yes
Charge/indictment/information: yes
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: yes
Sentence: 5 years

FBI case ID:

Houston 44-137

San Antonio 44-79

DOJ case ID:

144-74-76


Document(s):
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
news articles - closed
Data Fields
To learn more about data fields, refer to the data dictionary.
Cite this Page
Refer to how to cite.