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This is the first in a series of stories to mark the anniversary of the death of Danroy "DJ" Henry. Check back tomorrow for more.
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – One year after his death, Pace University students are ensuring that the legacy of DJ Henry lives on, especially on Facebook where family, friends, classmates and supporters have changed their statuses to read "I Am DJ Henry."
"I've seen his name in a ton of people's statuses and things like that, it's been all over Facebook recently," said Pace sophomore Mike Saia.
Students at Pace have taken the awareness effort one step further and many have changed their profile pictures to show one of Henry. The act is one to remind students of the tragedy that rocked the Pace campus last October.
"It was really a sad incident," sophomore Christina Ricchezza said. "People haven't forgotten about it. A lot of students have been paying their respects lately."
Henry, a Pace football player, was shot and killed by Pleasantville Police Officer Aaron Hess on October 17, 2010, following an incident outside of Finnegan's Grill in Thornwood. In circumstances that are still unclear, Henry hit Hess with his car and Hess fired shots through the windshield killing Henry. Hess was not indicted on any charges and was later given the officer of the year award by the Pleasantville Police Benevolent Association.
Saia said he feels many Pace students are still angry and searching for answers in regards to Henry's death.
"I think it was ridiculous that he received the officer of the year award after that." Saia said. "A lot of people are still wondering what happened that night because there's still so many stories floating around, even to this day."
Henry would have been a senior at Pace this fall. Despite his absence, his presence is still felt on campus.
"I think DJ brought a lot of people closer, he was friends with everyone," sophomore Stacey Gean-Francois said. "It made a lot of people appreciate life too because it makes you realize that not only bad people leave us early, good people do, too."
Comments (4)
Just this past week independent medical examiners confirmed that he had a blood alcohol level equivalent to eight drinks. EIGHT DRINKS! That means barely conscious and stumbling drunk...and behind the wheel of a car. No one deserves to die for this but stop blaming the police.
He was drunk.
I want to know why the DA dropped the other charges? She was supposed to be the next best thing to the invention of sliced bread. A fighter for the people who have been wronged. She turned out to be a wimp, caving into political pressure.
I am so tired of the bleeding hearts saying what a good boy he was etc, etc. He was underage drinking and driving a car. When the cop told him to stop he tried to drive away. WHY?? It is a shame the price he had to pay , but he wasn’t too smart to try and run. A normal person would have stopped and gotten out of the car. What if he got away and with drinks in him hit your son, daughter, wife or husband and hurt or killed them would he still be a good boy? It’s time we back our police and take the hand cuffs off them. It is also time the news media starts reporting all the crime in our area and not make everyone think Thornwood, Pleasantville and Chappaqua are a low crime area. The “GOOD KIDS” hanging out at night in Rose hill shopping center are going to be the next problem.