James Johnson (1912 - 1946), a restaurant operator, was shot to death by police officers in the county jail in Maury County, Tennessee. Johnson was detained in connection with the well-known assault on the Black community in Columbia in February 1946. The police claimed Johnson and another person named William Gordon seized a gun and shot an officer. According to police, the officers then shot Johnson and Gordon. William Gordon (1907-1946), a farmer, was killed by state troopers in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Gordon was one of around 100 prisoners being held for participating in “racial disorders.” Gordon, and also James Johnson and Napoleon Stewart, were being transported under heavy guard, and one of them allegedly got hold of a rifle and shot deputy sheriff R.T. Darnell in the arm. Other officers fired, killing Gordon and Johnson and wounding Stewart.

William Gordon

James Johnson

Lynn Bomar

T. R. Darnell

Flo Fleming

W. A. Griffin

J. J. Jackson

Ed G. Pennington

Joe Sanford

J. J. Underwood

Dave White

Chicago 44-55

Memphis 44-58

New York 44-89

Memphis 44-78