In the early hours of Memorial Day in 2014, a promising young man's life was tragically cut short in a sudden burst of violence. Dowayne Henry, a 20-year-old male, was enjoying a barbecue with friends in the yard of his Laurelton, Queens home. The festive atmosphere of the holiday weekend was shattered at approximately 2:30 a.m. when an unidentified gunman approached and opened fire. Henry was struck in the head and abdomen and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another 25-year-old man was shot in the back but survived his injuries and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
Family and friends were left devastated and searching for answers in the wake of the senseless act. They described Henry as a dedicated and well-loved individual with a passion for basketball. He had recently returned home from college and was working two jobs, one as a preschool teacher and another at a sporting goods store, with aspirations of transferring to York College to play basketball. He was remembered as a quiet, nice, and helpful young man who also had a deep love for his family and community. In an online recruiting profile, he had written about his desire to provide a better place for the younger generation.
The motive for the shooting remained unclear to investigators in the immediate aftermath. Family members struggled to comprehend who would want to harm Henry, with his uncle mentioning a rumor that the shooting may have been over a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers Henry was wearing, though this was not confirmed by police. Law enforcement officials spent the morning canvassing the scene for clues, but there appeared to have been no prior altercation leading up to the shooting. The gunman, described as wearing a gray hoodie, fled the scene and had not been identified. In the days following the tragedy, no arrests were made, and the case was left without a known suspect as police continued their investigation.
