Mother of Danroy 'DJ' Henry: 'This Can Happen Again'

He was their “golden child” says Angella Henry, mother of slain Pace University student Danroy “DJ” Henry Jr. He was the child that did everything right, from his academics, his devotion to family, his health, sports, and church, there was nothing that could have foretold his demise. He always made the right choices and even the night of his death, he chose Finnegan’s to hang out because he knew it was a “safe” crowd.

When I spoke with Mrs. Henry, she said she knows it could have been anyone’s child. But it wasn’t. It was hers.

The grand jury began viewing evidence last week behind closed doors. She says that’s one of the hardest things, being kept in the dark. Though Danroy, DJ’s father, will testify, that is the only time a family member or even their attorney will be present during the grand jury. This fact paired with the knowledge that the same police department under investigation took part in gathering evidence for the investigation has the Henry family and supporters questioning just how fair the proceedings will be.

Mrs. Henry wants people to know what they’ve been through, expecting truth and transparency, and then realizing it wouldn’t come easy. She wants them to know that the police didn’t call to tell her DJ had been shot; it was a nurse, and only after specifically being asked did she tell them it was a police officer on the other end of the gun. When they arrived at the hospital, no department official was there to greet them or discuss what happened. In fact, Danroy had to call the police himself and ask to be seen. The police department was actually planning a press conference about the shooting before anyone had even spoken to the family.

“We live in this country. We pay taxes," Angella says, trying to convey to me the utter disbelief they continue to struggle with in regards to the handling of their son’s death.

There are certain things that are repeatedly being overlooked in the media, she says. Little attention has been paid to the fact that DJ’s cell phone was used in the hours following his death, while it was in police possession. When she saw his body in the hospital, he had bruises on his face and cuts on his body that weren’t there the last time she saw him alive, just hours earlier that evening. And, she is concerned about the attention being paid to the fact that autopsy results stated DJ’s blood contained enough alcohol to put him over the  legal limit, this when the amount in his digestive system (only a trace) suggested he hadn’t been drinking during his final hours.

After the shooting, Angella says many lawmakers reached out. Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Scott Brown and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick are just a few who expressed their support and pledged an open door. The family continues to receive meals and help from friends throughout the week and every yard in their neighborhood has a “Justice For DJ” sign. Cards, gifts and photographs have flooded their home from people across the country and Mrs. Henry is grateful for the support.

The family is hoping for criminal charges and their attorney has stated the actions of the officer who fired the fatal shot constitute murder. Mrs. Henry says if the grand jury doesn’t result in meaningful charges, she holds out hope that the Justice Department will intervene.

When asked what she would say to the Change.org members and supporters around the world, Mrs. Henry simply asks for continued support. “My heart breaks knowing it will happen again -- to another family,” she says. “It could have been their child. It could have been anyone’s child.”

You can do your part to show support for the Henry family by signing the Change. org petition below and recruiting others to join. You can also keep up with the case through the Facebook group “Absolute Truth for the Henry Family” or see updates through the Justice for DJ blog. The Henry family has also established a DJ Dream Fund, created to carry on DJ’s love of athletics  for children who might not have the same opportunities that he did.

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Photo Credit: Henry family