Quantcast

Pace University Student Killed By Westchester Police

101810henry.jpg
Danroy Henry
A Pace University football player was shot and killed by police early Sunday morning in Westchester after running into a cop. Danroy Henry, a varsity defensive football player and junior at the university’s Westchester County campus, was allegedly trying to get away from the "rowdy" scene at Finnegan's Grill in Thornwood, NY. Henry was in his car with two passengers when a cop from Mount Pleasant knocked on the driver’s side window, and Henry gunned his accelerator—plowing into a different cop from Pleasantville.

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

One of the passengers suffered a minor gun shot wound. According to police, more than 150 people had congregated at the front of the bar and in the shopping center parking lot, with sporadic fights breaking out even after police arrived (apparently 50 officers were needed to help control the scene).

Henry's classmates were stunned, with one saying, “DJ is one of the most peaceful guys on the team…I’ve seen practices or I’ve seen things escalate on campus, DJ would be one of the people like, 'I’m going to remove myself from this situation, this is not me.'" Pace University President Stephen J. Friedman said, "We extend the deepest sympathies of our community to Mr. Henry's family and friends. We are working with the police investigation and as appropriate will share more information when it becomes available."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • slov

    Wow, the racist that murdered that poor student just got "Mount Pleasantville Police officer of the year". Way to rub it in to make the family feel even worse. Here's to hoping Satan has an even bigger award for him when he's a rotting corpse!

  • csk

    what's up with pace students? trying to run over a cop with a car, getting killed over drugs, what next?

  • rdayk

    Alright, so he panicked and tried to speed off, which is a terrible mistake, but I think shooting him dead at point-blank range was a bigger mistake. At this point, we don't have enough information to say who was to blame, but it looks like both the cops and the students made mistakes, only the student's mistake cost him his life.

  • 5borough

    Oh no!

    It is Saint Bell all over again!

    (except this kid actually appeared to be doing something with his life)

  • Rocknrope

    Here's what you should do when confronted by the police, in a car or not:

    1) Don't say anything

    2) Don't hide anything

    3) Don't DO anything

    4) LISTEN to their instructions

    It's not so hard. Remember, they're the ones with the authorization to shoot.

  • Petey

    If a cop knocks on your window, do not speed away. If he's going to ask you to move, you can roll down your window, and he'll tell you to move. The reason he knocks on your window is probably to get your attention for 1 reason or another.

  • schadenfreudian mensch

    Especially don't say a f'ing word. They're not there to help you in any way.

  • poopmast

    5)dont ram through 1-3 cops with car

  • Erök

    Sounds like a Police Academy skit. Lassard!

  • Spirit of 76

    If the cops were called to break up a fight as the DJ said, then they were likely in uniform rather than plainclothes. He should have recognized them and followed instructions.

    You have to love the girl who said it was poorly handled and they should have "shot out the tires." Sheesh. Somebody has been watching way too many action movies. I'd like to see her even hit a moving car, never mind small targets like tires.

  • synik

    Pace has a football team?

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com