Killing of Henry Lee Johnson

The Black Hat Club The club attracted racial incidents. Late January 19, 1980, a group of local Black youths—15-year-old Henry Lee Johnson, his 13-year-old brother Victor, and other teenage boys—entered the parking lot of the club through a hole in the gate. They were seen and chased by Walter Anthony "Tony" DeShazo, a White man from Horatio, Arkansas, who fired several shots in their direction. As the boys escaped, they discovered that Henry Lee Johnson was no longer with them. They returned the next morning to look for him, and his body was discovered. == 1980 Idabel Protest==

Immediately following the discovery of Johnson's body, rumors began to circulate, including that the youth was severely beaten and lynched. This led to rioting with clashes between approximately 150 police officers and 200 rioters. During the riots, two men, William Mack Jr., Black, and Idabel auxiliary police officer Ruben Farmer, white, were both killed. In the days following the riots, Ku Klux Klan members in Oklahoma City and Idabel passed out flyers and recruited new members. After the riots, Governor George Nigh declared martial law and deployed the Oklahoma National Guard to the county. == Trial of DeShazo==

Walter Anthony "Tony" DeShazo, from a prominent family in Horatio, turned himself in and confessed to the murder in January 1980. He was charged with first-degree murder and bonded out for $25,000 two days later. Oklahoma Senator Gene Stipe was the lead defense attorney for DeShazo. No other person was ever arrested in connection with the murder. ==Aftermath==

In October 1980, Billy Richards, a Black man, was shot and killed by police. His companion and a White police officer were also shot but survived. The wounded man, Willie Warhop, filed a $4million lawsuit against the city of Idabel, but withdrew the suit in exchange for the dismissal of charges against him for shooting with intent to kill the officer. == References ==