Devin Henderson

Devin Henderson, a 17-year-old Black male from Dayton, Ohio, was a beloved son and brother. His mother, Linda Henderson, and his family described the immense heartbreak of losing him. Devin was with his friend, 17-year-old Javier Harrison, on the evening he died. According to Javier’s father, the two teens and their friends sometimes hung out and smoked marijuana in a detached garage on Conners Street.

On the night of August 28, 2019, Devin and Javier were inside that garage in Dayton's Edgemont neighborhood. At about 9:30 p.m., the property owner, 63-year-old Victor Santana, told police he heard noises and voices and saw a light from a car in his garage, which was unlocked, open, and stood about 15 feet from his house. Santana confronted three individuals in the garage and fired multiple shots from a .38-caliber pistol. He then called 911 to report the shooting, telling authorities he shot the teens for trespassing.

Devin Henderson was shot twice in the back and died at the scene. Javier Harrison was shot in his back, arm, and thigh and also died from his injuries. A third teen who was with them fled but returned when police arrived. An investigation was launched by the Dayton Police Department and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. Devin’s mother, upon learning her son was shot in the back, said, "To me, it seems like they were just trying to get away."

Three months later, in November 2019, a grand jury indicted Victor Santana on four counts of murder, five counts of felonious assault, and one count of attempted murder. Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. announced that "the evidence in this case does not demonstrate a reasonable claim of self-defense." Santana was arrested and held on a $2 million bond, and he entered a plea of not guilty. The case drew significant public outcry as the boys' families held weekly vigils and called for justice.

Before the trial, a judge ruled that a new "stand your ground" law could not be applied retroactively to the case. In December 2021, a jury found Victor Santana guilty of murder in the shooting deaths of Devin Henderson and Javier Harrison. The judge sentenced Santana to 21 years to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole consideration until he has served the minimum of 21 years.

After the sentencing, Devin’s mother expressed her relief. "Right now, I’m very happy, it’s going to be a good Christmas for me and my family," she said. Javier’s mother added, "They both got justice and that’s all that really matters." The case was closed as of Santana's sentencing in December 2021.