Odyssus “Ted” Henry, a 67-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot on April 1, 2016, during a workplace confrontation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The shooting occurred at approximately 7:10 a.m. inside Transit Express, a transportation services company located in the 1500 block of North Fourth Street, near West Cherry and North Court Streets. Henry, a longtime employee and part-time mechanic, was just one month away from permanently retiring and moving to Mississippi with his wife.
Instead, an argument with a fellow employee ended in gunfire, taking his life and leaving his family struggling to understand how a disagreement between people who knew each other could turn deadly.
WISN 12 News
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Born on October 27, 1948, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Henry was the son of Solomon Henry Sr. and Arlester Henry. He grew up in Sandy Hook, Mississippi, and attended Wesley Ray High School in Angie, Louisiana. He later served in the United States Army before establishing a life in Milwaukee. Family members remembered him as a hardworking, dependable individual who valued his family and faith. He was also a deacon at his church. Those closest to him described a loving husband, father, and respected role model whose years of military service, strong work ethic, and dedication to others had earned him the admiration of relatives and friends.
Visitation & Funeral Information
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According to investigators, the events leading to Henry's death began when he noticed that tools were disappearing from the workplace garage. Concerned about the missing equipment, Henry reportedly began using his cellphone to record activity inside the facility after business hours. The recording revealed that another employee had been allowing friends into the garage to work on vehicles or equipment. At some point, Henry's cellphone disappeared, creating additional tension surrounding the recordings and what they might have revealed. On the morning of April 1, Henry and another employee became involved in a confrontation concerning the missing phone. Police reported that the disagreement escalated into a physical altercation during which Henry threw a punch. The other employee then retrieved a handgun from his locker and fired twice, striking Henry and causing fatal injuries.
WISN 12 News
Employees interviewed following the shooting provided additional details about Henry's movements that morning. They indicated that he had finished working the previous night and returned to the facility to retrieve something he had left behind. The employee suspected of shooting him was working when the confrontation occurred. The shooting took place in a relatively isolated section of the building, according to company representatives. Emergency responders and Milwaukee police arrived after the gunfire, but Henry had already suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other individuals were reported injured.
FOX6 Milwaukee
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The suspected gunman was identified in initial police reports as a 35-year-old coworker who had worked at Transit Express for years. Authorities reported that he remained at the business following the shooting rather than fleeing. Police recovered a firearm and took him into custody. Investigators also determined that the suspect possessed a valid concealed-carry permit. However, the owner of Transit Express explained that company policy prohibited firearms on the premises, regardless of whether employees were legally permitted to carry weapons elsewhere. The circumstances raised serious questions about why a firearm had been brought into the workplace and how an argument over missing property had escalated to deadly violence.
WISN 12 News
+1
One of the most troubling aspects for Henry's family was that the suspected shooter was not a stranger. Relatives told reporters that the two had been friends and that the suspect had visited Henry's home over the years. This personal connection made the killing particularly difficult for his loved ones to comprehend. His brother, Elbert Henry, rushed to the workplace after learning of the shooting and helped bring Henry's wife to the scene. Other family members, including his sister Melissa Henry and cousin Missy Weary, expressed disbelief that an ordinary workplace disagreement could have ended with such devastating consequences. His nephew, Dareen Jordan, remembered his uncle as a respected figure whose leadership, compassion, and example had influenced others throughout his life.
FOX6 Milwaukee
+1
Police treated the shooting as a homicide and confirmed that the suspect had been arrested at the scene. News reports published on April 1, 2016, indicated that criminal charges were expected the following week. However, the available reporting reviewed for this case did not establish the suspect's identity, the specific charges ultimately filed, or whether the prosecution resulted in a plea agreement, trial, conviction, acquittal, or sentencing. Although investigators had identified and detained the individual believed responsible, the subsequent judicial disposition could not be independently confirmed from the available records.
WLUK
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Henry's death occurred at a time when he and his wife were preparing to begin a new chapter together. After years of military service, employment, and raising a family, he had been looking forward to leaving Milwaukee and returning to Mississippi. His brother confirmed that the couple's planned move was only weeks away. Henry left behind his wife, four sons, siblings, extended family members, friends, and a congregation that knew him through his involvement in the church. His sudden death transformed what should have been a period of celebration and anticipation into one of mourning.
For the Henry family, the tragedy was especially painful because it happened in a familiar workplace and involved someone their loved one had known and trusted. What began as a disagreement over missing tools and a cellphone ended with two gunshots and the loss of a husband, father, veteran, and respected community member. Odyssus Henry's life was cut short just as he was preparing to enjoy retirement, leaving behind a family whose memories of his kindness, service, and dedication would endure long after the violence of that April morning.Odyssus “Ted” Henry, a 67-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot on April 1, 2016, during a workplace confrontation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The shooting occurred at approximately 7:10 a.m. inside Transit Express, a transportation services company located in the 1500 block of North Fourth Street, near West Cherry and North Court Streets. Henry, a longtime employee and part-time mechanic, was just one month away from permanently retiring and moving to Mississippi with his wife. Instead, an argument with a fellow employee ended in gunfire, taking his life and leaving his family struggling to understand how a disagreement between people who knew each other could turn deadly.
WISN 12 News
+1
Born on October 27, 1948, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Henry was the son of Solomon Henry Sr. and Arlester Henry. He grew up in Sandy Hook, Mississippi, and attended Wesley Ray High School in Angie, Louisiana. He later served in the United States Army before establishing a life in Milwaukee. Family members remembered him as a hardworking, dependable individual who valued his family and faith. He was also a deacon at his church. Those closest to him described a loving husband, father, and respected role model whose years of military service, strong work ethic, and dedication to others had earned him the admiration of relatives and friends.
Visitation & Funeral Information
+1
According to investigators, the events leading to Henry's death began when he noticed that tools were disappearing from the workplace garage. Concerned about the missing equipment, Henry reportedly began using his cellphone to record activity inside the facility after business hours. The recording revealed that another employee had been allowing friends into the garage to work on vehicles or equipment. At some point, Henry's cellphone disappeared, creating additional tension surrounding the recordings and what they might have revealed. On the morning of April 1, Henry and another employee became involved in a confrontation concerning the missing phone. Police reported that the disagreement escalated into a physical altercation during which Henry threw a punch. The other employee then retrieved a handgun from his locker and fired twice, striking Henry and causing fatal injuries.
WISN 12 News
Employees interviewed following the shooting provided additional details about Henry's movements that morning. They indicated that he had finished working the previous night and returned to the facility to retrieve something he had left behind. The employee suspected of shooting him was working when the confrontation occurred. The shooting took place in a relatively isolated section of the building, according to company representatives. Emergency responders and Milwaukee police arrived after the gunfire, but Henry had already suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other individuals were reported injured.
FOX6 Milwaukee
+2
The suspected gunman was identified in initial police reports as a 35-year-old coworker who had worked at Transit Express for years. Authorities reported that he remained at the business following the shooting rather than fleeing. Police recovered a firearm and took him into custody. Investigators also determined that the suspect possessed a valid concealed-carry permit. However, the owner of Transit Express explained that company policy prohibited firearms on the premises, regardless of whether employees were legally permitted to carry weapons elsewhere. The circumstances raised serious questions about why a firearm had been brought into the workplace and how an argument over missing property had escalated to deadly violence.
WISN 12 News
+1
One of the most troubling aspects for Henry's family was that the suspected shooter was not a stranger. Relatives told reporters that the two had been friends and that the suspect had visited Henry's home over the years. This personal connection made the killing particularly difficult for his loved ones to comprehend. His brother, Elbert Henry, rushed to the workplace after learning of the shooting and helped bring Henry's wife to the scene. Other family members, including his sister Melissa Henry and cousin Missy Weary, expressed disbelief that an ordinary workplace disagreement could have ended with such devastating consequences. His nephew, Dareen Jordan, remembered his uncle as a respected figure whose leadership, compassion, and example had influenced others throughout his life.
FOX6 Milwaukee
+1
Police treated the shooting as a homicide and confirmed that the suspect had been arrested at the scene. News reports published on April 1, 2016, indicated that criminal charges were expected the following week. However, the available reporting reviewed for this case did not establish the suspect's identity, the specific charges ultimately filed, or whether the prosecution resulted in a plea agreement, trial, conviction, acquittal, or sentencing. Although investigators had identified and detained the individual believed responsible, the subsequent judicial disposition could not be independently confirmed from the available records.
WLUK
+1
Henry's death occurred at a time when he and his wife were preparing to begin a new chapter together. After years of military service, employment, and raising a family, he had been looking forward to leaving Milwaukee and returning to Mississippi. His brother confirmed that the couple's planned move was only weeks away. Henry left behind his wife, four sons, siblings, extended family members, friends, and a congregation that knew him through his involvement in the church. His sudden death transformed what should have been a period of celebration and anticipation into one of mourning.
For the Henry family, the tragedy was especially painful because it happened in a familiar workplace and involved someone their loved one had known and trusted. What began as a disagreement over missing tools and a cellphone ended with two gunshots and the loss of a husband, father, veteran, and respected community member. Odyssus Henry's life was cut short just as he was preparing to enjoy retirement, leaving behind a family whose memories of his kindness, service, and dedication would endure long after the violence of that April morning.
