We wish to thank our community of neighbors and friends, the Pace University community and in particular his football family, and all of the well wishers who were touched in some way by our son during his too short life. While we were not involved in planning the candlelight vigils at Pace University and in our neighborhood, we view them as living testaments to both his character and the overwhelmingly positive impact and impression he left on people. We are told that more than 1,000 people attended the combined vigils, and we will be forever grateful to all of you for the outpouring of your love. Now we can only hope that people will begin to see the true character of our son DJ. As a family, we are grieving but clear-minded in our search for the truth. We are not seeking to disparage police in general. Our son never showed a disregard for members of law enforcement. In fact, we have members of both the active duty military and law enforcement in our immediate and our extended family of friends and relatives. We are simply seeking the truth about the actions of anyone who participated in the killing of our son.
We have retained civil rights attorney Michael Sussman of Goshen, New York to represent our interests in this matter. While we had been assured of an objective investigation, we are deeply troubled by the various and conflicting accounts reported of the incident that led to our son's tragic passing. Our son was not involved in the altercation which led various police agencies to respond to Finnegan's. He was simply waiting outside for friends he had promised to pick up so they could all leave the chaotic area. We are pursuing and will continue to pursue the truth. The images and reports of our beloved son being handcuffed and left without medical attention for several minutes after he was shot are too much for us to bear right now, yet they represent part of the real truth from that evening. While what we would wish for most of all is to have our son and brother back, all we can settle for now is the absolute truth. We expect to take all necessary steps to get it.
The Henry family kindly requests that members of the media please respect their privacy as they mourn the loss of their son. They will be making no further public statements at this time.
Henry, 20, of Easton, Mass., was shot at by two police officers early Sunday in the middle of a chaotic scene in front of Finnegan's Grill in Thornwood, where a large fight was unfolding. Henry was not involved in the brawl.
As he was approached by a Mount Pleasant officer, Henry sped away and struck two officers with his car, including one cop who was flung onto the hood, police said.
That account now is being contested by Henry's family, front-seat passenger Brandon Cox and a few witnesses.
As Henry continued to drive through the parking lot at the Town Center strip mall, and in front of more than 150 people, two officers opened fire on the car, killing Henry. (The Journal News)
