In the early hours of May 4, 2021, Baltimore Police were called to a residence in the 3100 block of Williston Street, where they discovered an unresponsive person. The victim was identified as Danny Henson, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman who also went by the name Pryynce Daniel. A day before her death, she had posted on social media asking for prayers. Henson was born and raised in Baltimore and had attended the University of Maryland.
Those who knew her described her as a good and sweet person with a big heart. She was actively involved in the LGBTQ community.
Her death was ruled a homicide, and it was later revealed she had been shot. Her brother, Michael, shared that she was transitioning and believed she may have had an altercation with someone she knew and possibly had a relationship with. In the days following her death, family, friends, and members of the Baltimore Safe House held a candlelight vigil and balloon release in her honor. Her death was one of many instances of violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people in 2021, particularly Black trans women.
The investigation into Danny Henson's murder led to the arrest of two suspects. Daqwan Sawyer, 24, and Cadeem Green, 23, were charged in connection with her death. The charges against Sawyer included two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in the commission of a crime, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. In October 2021, the prosecution offered Sawyer a plea deal of life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, the same offer that had been extended to his co-defendant. Both Sawyer and Green rejected the plea offers and were scheduled to be tried in April 2022.
