In the late hours of a Sunday in Utica, New York, the life of 24-year-old Kaeron Mykel Henderson was tragically cut short. On November 20, 2022, the young Black man became a victim of gun violence, his body discovered in a grassy area between the sidewalk and the street on Whitesboro Street. First responders arrived at the scene shortly after midnight following reports of multiple gunshots. Henderson, having sustained several gunshot wounds, was rushed to the St.
Elizabeth Campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
Kaeron, born on April 17, 1998, in Gloversville, NY, was known for his compassionate nature and his dedication to his family, especially his children. He had channeled his desire to help others into his work as a Resident Counselor with Upstate Cerebral Palsy and had also been employed by the House of the Good Shepherd, an organization focused on strengthening families. His unexpected death left a void in the lives of his loved ones, including his mother, his children, and his siblings, for whom he was a protective figure.
The investigation into Henderson's death quickly progressed. The day after the shooting, the Utica Police Department announced the arrest of 20-year-old Dontay Horning. He was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Henderson's death. While an arrest was made, authorities indicated that the investigation remained active and that they were seeking to identify and speak with other individuals who may have been present at the time of the shooting. The police suggested that they might seek public assistance as they continued to piece together the full circumstances of the incident that led to the death of Kaeron Henderson.
