Danroy Henry Shot and Killed: Aftermath Caught on Video

by Amy Judd | October 18, 2010 at 08:18 am

6767 views | 0 Recommendations | 9 comments

Family and Friends are Grieving Over the Death of Pace University Student Danroy Henry Over the Weekend

Danroy Henry, 20, was shot and killed by police in front of Finnegan’s Grill, a Thornwood bar early on Sunday morning, when he was sitting in his vehicle parked in a fire line according to CBS New York.

Police were there trying to break up a fight in a parking lot when they noticed the car parked in the fire lane. When a Pleasantville police officer approached Henry's car, he reportedly pulled away hitting the officer who ended up on the hood of the car, then he allegedly grazed another officer, causing both of them to open fire on the car.

Danroy Henry was shot and killed and his front seat passenger suffered minor injuries. Mount Pleasant police said that the scene was so chaotic that about 50 police officers responded to calls for help. A video of the aftermath (parts of which can be seen in this CBS New York report) shows confusion and chaos, with people screaming and crying and hanging around the parking lot.

Friends and family are devastated by the news of this Pace University student's death, but say these actions reported by police do not describe the young man they knew.

“DJ is one of the most peaceful guys on the team. There’s plenty of times when, at practices, I’ve seen things escalate on campus, and DJ would be one of the people who’d be like: ‘Alright, I’m going to remove myself from this situation because it’s not me’,” a fellow student athlete said.

Henry's father told CBS that he wants to find out exactly what happened.

“Not only are we experiencing this great loss, but we’re also beside ourselves because we just absolutely can’t understand how this could happen to our son,” Danroy Henry Sr. said outside the family’s Massachusetts home.

Henry Sr. and his wife Angela had just seen Danroy play on Sunday against Stonehill.

‘You’re going to get the police reports. So we’re going to need to do some work on our end to make sure that that’s all factual…. There are a lot of witnesses who say that that’s not the version, so we need to get to the bottom of it, one way or another,” Henry said.

The NY Post has a statement from Mount Pleasant police, which states:

"With the Pleasantville officer clinging to the hood of the car, [the car] continued to accelerate; the Pleasantville officer then fired at the driver," a statement from Mount Pleasant cops said.

"The suspect vehicle continued ... heading directly toward another Mount Pleasant officer, who also fired at the vehicle. The vehicle then struck a parked Mount Pleasant police car coming to a stop."

Henry and his passenger were taken to Westchester Medical Center, and Henry was pronounced dead. Two police officers were treated for injuries, and two were treated for trauma.

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Ray Geming (not verified)

at 09:37 on October 18th, 2010

A disgusting outrage! A Black student (having made all the "right choices") murdered in a car by cops. This system has no future for the youth, but the revolution does! The cover-up began immediately. How is this systemic? Watch "Yes there's a conspiracy, to get the cops off" on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMG0qu3XP7k

Concerned Black Parent (not verified)

at 10:12 on October 18th, 2010

HOW DARE A BLACK YOUNG MAN WHO SPENT HIS MONEY IN A WHITE ESTABLISHMENT WITH HIS OTHER BLACK FRIENDS BE SHOT AT AND KILLED, BUT THE OFFICERS LIVED? A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS GOING TO COLLEGE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS BROWN SKIN IS LOOKED AT LIKE A HOODLUM ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS WHO ALSO HAD GUNS PUT AT THEIR HEADS AND JUST MISSED SHOTS THAT WERE BEING FIRED AT THEM AS WELL? WHAT KIND OF TOWN IS THIS? PUT OUT SIGNS THAT SAY NO BLACKS ALLOWED!!! AT LEAST A PRECIOUS LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED!!! AWFUL!!! PREJUDICE AT ITS WORSE!!! DISGUSTING!!! HAS ANYONE NOTICED ATTY. GENERAL HOLDER IS A BLACK MAN AND OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA IS TOO? THIS WAS THE SHOT THAT WILL BE HEARD ALL OVER THE STATES. I AM 3000 MILES AWAY AND GOT A PHONE CALL ABOUT IT. BLACK MEN ARE OUR PAST AND FUTURE AND TO CUT DOWN AN EDUCATED YOUNG BLACK MAN IS A TRAVESTY BEYOND WORDS! THAT TOWN NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED AND OPRAH NEEDS TO DO A STORY ON THIS HORRENDOUS OCCURENCE!

James Sterling (not verified)

at 02:04 on October 19th, 2010

Is this what cops are taught? To jump onto moving cars and fire through the windshield like Starsky and Hutch? Sounds pretty skilled for someone who supposedly has just been "hit", while his partner is "trying to pull him off." Yes he must have been very determined to shoot those kids. As for the car "barreling towards another officer." Yeah right. If so, half because that officer also stepped into the vehicles path, and half because of the maniac hanging on the hood with his gun blazing. Where are the dashcam videos? The truth will come out that this was an unlawful killing and the cop will still be acquitted or retire quietly. America the beautiful.

Pace alumni (not verified)

at 11:10 on October 19th, 2010

I went to that campus. Pleasantville and Thornwood are one dimensional. When I heard a student was killed, I knew he was black even before the rest of the story was told.RIP.

Mother of Son's (not verified)

at 14:54 on October 29th, 2010

I was very saddened to read this article about Danroy Henry, I've experienced it first hand with my oldest son in 2003 although two people died that day. I pray that the truth will come out and am very sorry for you loss. my youngest son is a freshmen in college, I worry constantly that something like this will happen to him while he is out with friends and try to impress upon him what to expect in this world we live in. the cop hurt his knee the young man dies? God knows the truth and it will come out, my prayers go to the family. may you get some comfort from psalm 91:2 KJV

Elizabeth F (not verified)

at 14:56 on October 29th, 2010

My heart and prayers go out to the family of this young black man that was loved and adored by his classmates, coaches, teachers and most importantly his family. Unfortunately racism is still alive and well, and it seems young afro-american men face the prejudice of 'DWB' (driving while black) or judged guilty before circumstances are brought to the forefront. Again condolescences to the family.

Mad Mo (not verified)

at 14:45 on November 14th, 2010

My brother was shot by a drunk, off duty, Latino, NYC cop in 1972. When the cops came to the scene, they made sure to put the officer's badge on upside down so no one could get his ID number. Because we were "poor white trash" charges were never filed against that cop, the news never hit the paper, and nothing was ever done. I did hear, however, that several years later that rotten cop went to jail for something else and was killed in prison. Yes - Karma comes back to bite you on the butt. These cops are covering up and just wait until their Karma comes to get them!

Shayleze (not verified)

at 16:18 on November 21st, 2010

veryone comment is so right,anyone with common sense can see this was about race.The jackass ended up on the car to justify what was done,I'm with the guy who said karma i.I'm happy my parent didn't teach me how to hate,you drag that bagage everywhere you go,and because of that someone lost there life,and to them good job!But guess what they will pay.

anthony hallirodson (not verified)

at 14:02 on December 2nd, 2010

I am a white guy from the UK but this is the reason I would never come to America. Your cops can kill who they like for minor reasons. The UK cops also have 'licences to kill' but our cops don't carry guns, so we are a lot safer.