Danroy "DJ" Henry was an Easton, Mass. native attending Pace University in New York. On the night of October 17, 2010, Henry was shot and killed by Pleasantville, NY police officer Aaron Hess. A grand jury cleared Hess of wrongdoing. Now, more than four years after Henry's death, the Federal Department of Justice is reviewing evidence and deciding whether or not to file charges in the case.
"In Westchester County, we didn't receive — we think — a proper look at the evidence, or a proper review of the case by the local district attorney's office," D.J. Henry's father, Dan, said Wednesday on Boston Public Radio.
"We asked originally that someone step in and just investigate independently. They didn't do that. We asked for the Justice Department or someone else in New York state to do an independent investigation, and to prosecute it independently. That didn't happen. It was prosecuted and investigated by the same department. Effectively, the D.A.'s a part of that department. She works very closely with these two agencies. The US Attorney's office did step in" eventually, Henry said.
One of the most confusing elements in the wake of this incident — the length of time it's taken to review the case — is how quickly the Justice Department conducted its review of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot on August 9th of last year, and on Tuesday the Justice Department released its review of the case. Nonetheless, Danroy's mother Angella said she's still hopeful.
"They're doing a thorough investigation, and hopefully we'll have some information soon," Angella Henry said. "They're being very diligent in what they're looking at. [...] It's not a 'no,' so we continue to be hopeful."
In January the Henrys attended President Obama's State of the Union speech. They attended at the invitation of Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who represents Easton.
"It's bittersweet because we are there because of the tragedy that we've endured, and it was an opportunity for us to sit amongst people that could possibly help. It was overwhelming, it was very positive for us as well just to meet some people that have stepped forward and said, 'You know, we want to help, how can we help?'" Angella Henry said.
"I couldn't prove that [Pres. Obama] knows, but we hope that he knows" about the case, Dan Henry said. He added that the former Mass. Governor was supportive of their cause.
"Gov. Patrick — when he was in office — was doing what others have done more publicly, he did more privately, advocating for a response."
For now, the Henrys await a response from the Justice Department. They established a fund in their son's memory — the DJ Dream Fund — to encourage younger children to get into athletics through scholarships.
