College Student Killed After Intervening to Help ‘Troubled’ Friend
A big-hearted Brooklyn college student was shot dead early Thursday after he ran to a troubled friend’s defense in Crown Heights, police and family members say.
Witnesses told police a gunman blasted Jason Henry, 21, when he intervened in an argument on Empire Blvd. near Utica Ave. at 3:26 a.m.
The accounting major, who lived nearby on Midwood St., died at the scene, police said.
No arrests have been made.
Family members say Henry rushed out of his home at 1 a.m. after receiving a text from his friend Jamel Williams, a high school dropout who was in an ongoing dispute with another man.
“(Williams) said he needed help,” said Henry’s friend Krystan Burnett, 21. “Someone in his building was going to fight him and he called for backup. He didn’t know if the fight was going to be one-on-one.”
NYPD detectives took Williams in for questioning hours after Henry was killed, a neighbor said. He was released, but could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Henry’s family called the longtime pal a “troubled friend.”
“I told Jason over and over to leave (Williams) alone,” Henry’s mother Andrea told the Daily News. “You can’t change people.”
Henry was working torward a master’s degree in accounting at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, his mother said. To help pay for tuition, he worked at the school lounge. He also delivered pizzas for Domino’s.
“He was the best kid a mother could ask for,” she said. “He wasn’t a street kid. He went to school and tried to do his best.”
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Gold
America. The country where the citizens have more guns than law enforcements.
Jews mourn this senseless loss
Dear relatives and friends of Jason Henry, of blessed memory,
I mourn your loss and feel such sorrow. I did not know Jason, not at all. But as your neighbor, and as a wife and mother, I feel great pain to hear of a dear son and a good young man like this being gunned down so senselessly.
May G-d be with you always. Jason’s soul is surely in Heaven now.
Your Crown Heights Jewish neighbor
Tiffy boo
The good die young. I love My cousin and I wish I took the time to be around him more before he died. A lesson to all be careful who your call your friend. Love u always Jason… Your always in our heart
So True
So sad. A good boy shot dead!
Another Mommy
To commenter #2,
I could not have said anything better to myself. To Jasons mom, I can not fathom the pain you are in, but I want to wish you only happiness and peace going forward. I am so so sorry for your loss.
A Friend's Mother
My heart aches for the senseless killing of such a sweet, kind and peaceful person. To his mom (Andrea Henry) I pray that God will strenghten and keep you and your family…
Nikki
is is so unfair, I wish Jason thought about it before. I didn’t know what Jamel was trying to prove.
Ad Mosai?!?
Enough is enough! Why all the senseless killing it’s time we all do teshuvah and turn to God! There’s no reason another young man must leave the world behind at such a young age , may the omnipresent one bless his family and comfort them, Amen.
Michele S. Jones
First, my heart and prayers goes out to Jason’s Family, friends- those that loved him and those that he loved. I only met Jason twice…once when I spoke to the student body at his high school and second at his High School graduation. It was because of HIM that I was asked to be the Keynote speaker at the graduation. I have spoke to tens of thousands students across the country, however, Jason is one that I have always remembered. He touched my heart and my life with his warm spirit…for that, I shall always remember the Blessing he gave me. May God keep each of his loved ones in His ever loving arms today and especially tomorrow when you are alone with your memories of Jason….