Wharlest Jackson

At approximately 8:00 p.m., on February 27, 1967, Wharlest Jackson’s pick-up truck exploded as he was driving it home from Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company where he worked in Natchez, Mississippi. Jackson, a 37-year-old African-American man, had recently been promoted to a new position at Armstrong. He had driven approximately six blocks from the plant after having completed working overtime on his day-shift when the explosion occurred. The type of explosive material was never identified. Jackson suffered extensive damage to the lower-half of his torso and died on the scene. Based on the location of Jackson’s injuries and the extensive damage to his truck under the driver’s seat area, the FBI concluded that the bomb or other explosive device was placed under the driver’s seat area on the outside of the frame of the truck.