Killing of Dillon Nelson Butler in Tennessee in 1939

Incident

Case summary

Dillon Nelson Butler (1919 - 1939), a laborer, was killed by patrolman Rex Summers in Dyer County, Tennessee. The police claimed that Butler was prowling when he was shot by Summers but an anonymous person and a fraternity wrote to the NAACP that Butler had been killed for no reason.

Victim(s):

Dillon Nelson Butler


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Rex Summers

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1939-05-31
Location: Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee
Location type: private space - agricultural or industrial
Allegation against victim: prowling

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
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