In the early morning hours of January 7, 2025, the quiet of a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Inside a home on Sidetrack Road, 35-year-old Michael Henritze Jr., a White male, was found deceased by police who were responding to a shooting report at approximately 5:30 a.m. He had sustained fatal gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide two days later by the Roanoke County Police Department.
Henritze, known to friends and family as 'Mikey,' was a local businessman who took pride in his lawn care company. He was also an enthusiastic collector of various items. A beloved son, brother, and father, he left behind three children.
For months, the investigation into Henritze's murder continued without any arrests, as his family and community mourned their sudden and violent loss. Law enforcement officials urged the public to come forward with any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. The community waited, hopeful for justice for a man described as a dedicated father and well-known member of the area.
On October 3, 2025, a Roanoke County Grand Jury returned indictments against two individuals in connection with the January slaying. Damion Tyler Ray King, 19, and James Dustin King, 37, both of Roanoke, were charged with second-degree murder, robbery with a death, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. James Dustin King faced an additional charge for being a nonviolent felon in possession of a firearm. Following the indictments, both suspects were taken into custody. Despite the arrests, authorities have stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
