Killing of Tommie Woods in Texas in 1954

Incident

Case summary

Tommie Woods, about 78, a farmer, was killed in 1954 by Sheriff J. O. Walker and Deputy Sheriff Ed Potter in Colorado County, Texas. Walker and Potter were at a tavern to intervene in a fight in which Woods was apparently not involved. There are conflicting accounts of what exactly happened in the fight that broke out between patrons and the officers, but in the melee, two shots were fired, one of which hit and killed Woods. There was a DOJ investigation; federal authorities concluded the killing of Woods was wanton and unnecessary but decided to close the case after determining the variation between the eyewitness accounts would prove to be too difficult to overcome if they prosecuted.

Victim(s):

Tommie Woods


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Ed Potter

J. O. Walker

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1954-10-02
Location: Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Location type: private space - commercial
Allegation against victim: attacking police officer and an innocent bystander

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

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

FBI case ID:

Houston 44-406

DOJ case ID:

144-74-269


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