Killing of Dan Carter Sanders in North Carolina in 1946

Incident

Case summary

Dan Carter Sanders, 26, a sawmill worker and WWII veteran, was killed in 1946 by Bobby Johnson, age 16, in Johnston County, North Carolina. Sanders and an unidentified person had allegedly stolen hound dogs from Johnson’s yard, frightening Johnson’s mother. Johnson, his father Robert Johnson, Lester Phillips, Russell Hatcher, and R.H. Stephenson organized to go after Sanders on foot and by car. As Sanders fled from them, Johnson fatally shot him. Grand jury declined to indict. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

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

Date of incident: 1946-11-18
Location: Johnston County, North Carolina
Location type: unknown - rural
Allegation against victim: stealing dogs

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

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


Investigated under the Emmett Till Act: yes
Document(s):
advocacy group resources
census records - closed
court records
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
maps
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
portraits
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