In the late summer of 2019, the life of 16-year-old Jaden Lee Casey was cut tragically short in a residence on Sugarcamp Road in South Covington, Kentucky. On September 22, Jaden was with a group of friends, including 19-year-old David Jesse Henry, in a basement bedroom where they were handling multiple firearms. The young men had also been smoking marijuana.
In a moment that would forever alter the course of several lives, a handgun held by Henry discharged, a single bullet striking Jaden in the back of the neck.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and Jaden was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He was placed on life support, but his injuries were too severe. Jaden passed away on September 24, 2019. He was a freshman at Scott High School, known for his signature backflip and his enjoyment of outdoor activities, woodworking, and masonry.
While police were investigating at the residence, a distraught David Jesse Henry approached them and admitted to his role in the shooting. He maintained that the discharge was accidental and that he was unaware the handgun was loaded. A search of the basement revealed multiple handguns, marijuana, and a spent. 40 caliber shell casing.
In January 2020, David Jesse Henry pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in Kenton Circuit Court. The Commonwealth's Attorney recommended a five-year prison sentence, highlighting the case as a tragic example of the deadly combination of drugs and firearms. This incident was noted as the third of its kind in Kenton County in a three-year span where individuals under the influence of marijuana had accidentally killed a friend or loved one with a firearm. Henry was formally sentenced on April 7, 2020.
