On a summer night in Atlanta, the life of Michael Henley, a 40-year-old African American father of five, was tragically cut short. In the early hours of July 23, 2017, a patrolling police officer discovered Henley slumped over the steering wheel of his still-running car at the intersection of Crogman Street and Moury Avenue. The vehicle's windows were shattered by multiple bullet holes, and Henley had been shot several times.
Investigators believe that Henley was shot about a block and a
half away from where his car was found. It appears he attempted to drive to safety before succumbing to his injuries. Neighbors in the area reported hearing three to four gunshots at approximately 10 p.m. the previous night. The grim discovery was made around 2 a.m. by an officer who noticed the car on the wrong side of the road with its lights on.
The investigation into Henley's death revealed a sinister plot involving gang members who had traveled from the northeast to Atlanta to purchase illegal guns. On the night of his death, Henley, who worked as a club promoter, was reportedly meeting with a woman he intended to hire. Unbeknownst to him, this meeting was a setup for a robbery by the gang members. During the course of the robbery, Henley was shot and killed with the very guns the suspects had illegally acquired in the city.
Three individuals were identified as suspects in the murder of Michael Henley: 23-year-old Javante Nunez, 23-year-old Damel Roberts, and 21-year-old Qariem Arrindell. The investigation uncovered that the suspects were members of a street gang with connections in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. The guns used in the murder were purchased for them by Roberts' ex-girlfriend, who was coerced into doing so under threats to her and her family. Following their arrests, Javante Nunez and Damel Roberts were tried, convicted, and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for their roles in Henley's death. Qariem Arrindell's trial was scheduled to take place at a later date.
