Killing of Melvin Randolph in Tennessee in 1934

Incident

Case summary

Melvin Randolph, 23, a farmer, was killed in 1934 by Sheriff W.C. Haynes in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. Randolph was in Haynes’s custody on a charge of attacking a 15-year-old girl, and was being transported to trial. Haynes fatally shot Randolph, claiming self-defense.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1934-07-08
Location: Frayser, Shelby County, Tennessee
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: attacking a white girl; assaulting a police officer

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

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


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