Parents To Sue Police For Son’s Killing
The parents of the student athlete killed by a police officer in October are suing the officer who killed their son.
In the complaint filed on Wednesday, Danroy Henry, Sr. and Angella Henry, say the officer violated the civil and constitutional rights of their son, Danroy Henry Jr., a Pace University football player, calling the shooting an “unconscionable use of force.”
The couple is seeking compensation for their son’s death and their suffering.
Officer, Aaron Hess, who was responsible for the shooting, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury in February.
Also, as previously report, Hess was named Officer of the Year by the Pleasantville Police Department for his “dignity and professionalism” since the shooting and throughout his career.
According to the Associated Press:
Hess shot Henry through the windshield of Henry’s car Oct. 17 as the 20-year-old drove away from a disturbance that spilled out of a bar in Thornwood, N.Y., after the Pace University homecoming game.
Hess has said he was hit by the car, thrown onto the hood and had no choice but to fire to stop the driver.
In their complaint, the Henrys say the car was moving at a reasonable speed. They say Hess jumped in front of the car, “ascended” the hood and fired at their son for no good reason.
They say he “steadied himself and fired four shots.” The complaint says the shooting was “an unconscionable act, shocking to the judicial conscience and the sort of action which must be eliminated and deterred to preserve the values of a civilized society.”
The lawsuit also names the village of Pleasantville as a defendant. It says the village contributed to Henry’s death by failing to properly train and supervise Hess.
The complaint did not specify the amount the Henrys are seeking. Although, their lawyer Michael Sussman said they would seek $120 million in January.
