The Zebra Killings

The “Zebra Killings” were classified as hate crimes: A group of African Americans known as “Death Angels” methodically stalked and killed Caucasian victims in San Francisco, California, from 1972 to 1974. The murders were dubbed “Zebra” because the police investigators used the radio channel “Z.” Five men were implicated in the majority of the murders: Jesse Lee Cooks, J. C. Simon, Larry Green, Manuel Moore, and Anthony Harris. The Death Angels believed Caucasians to be an inferior race and that they were earning “points” toward going to heaven for killing them. They also believed that an insane African scientist had created Caucasians 3,000 years ago so that the African race would have others to rule over. Many of their victims were women or elderly men, because they posed the least threat of fighting back. Brutality and lack of remorse were key components in the execution of the murders.

The final death toll was suspected by law enforcement to be around 70 victims. Some of the offenders were associated with the Nation of Islam and other Black Muslim groups. The Nation of Islam provided legal representation for each of the killers, who are now all eligible for parole hearings. Since 1972, a memorial service has been held in October on the steps of the San Francisco City Hall to remember the victims of the Zebra killings.