Killing of Paul Rex Johnson in Florida in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Paul Rex Johnson (1925 - 1949), was killed by prison guard Owen H. Sherrouse and other guards in Monroe County, Florida. Johnson, who was serving a four-year sentence at a state prison camp on Big Pine Key, was shot during a day-long riot. An inquest found that Johnson died of bullet wounds inflicted by Sherrouse and others unknown while armed and making a break, and found that the prison officials acted without fault.

Victim(s):

Paul Rex Johnson


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

Date of incident: 1949-12-08
Location: Key West, Monroe County, Florida
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: attempting to escape custody

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
census records - closed
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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