Killing of Johnnie Benjamin Smith in Florida in 1951

Incident

Case summary

Johnnie Benjamin Smith (1909-1951), a car washer, was killed by Eddie Coco in Miami Beach, Dade County, Florida. Coco, manager of middleweight boxing champion Rocky Graziano and an alleged mobster, fatally shot Smith in a dispute over a car-wash bill. Trial jury convicted. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Johnnie Benjamin Smith


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Edward Coco

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1951-02-01
Location: Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: dispute over money owed for washing a car

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

Criminal process
Arrest: yes
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: yes
Sentence: life sentence (only served 10 years)


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
court records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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