Raymond McMurray
Raymond McMurray was a Black soldier, a private first class stationed at Camp Sibert, Alabama. In March 1944, while three officers were driving him from Anniston toward Birmingham, he was shot to death in their car. The officers said he reached over from the back seat and grabbed the sheriff, causing the car to leave the road, and the coroner, Jack DeGaris, and a coroner's jury at Pell City ruled the killing justifiable homicide after nine bullets were found in his body. The Gary American reported that no witnesses were named, that many people called the death a legal lynching, and that the camp promised an investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). Coroner Jack DeGaris's jury ruled the shooting justifiable homicide, while many people called it a legal lynching and the camp promised an investigation.
Reported by: the three officers escorting him; Coroner Jack DeGaris and a coroner's jury at Pell City (medical examiner or coroner); many people quoted in the accounts who called the death a legal lynching.