Henry Family Attorney to Release Statements, Video and Audio

After a federal judge in White Plains yesterday following the shooting death of y student and Easton native DJ Henry, can be made public—as requested by Henry's family attorney—the public should have access to them in one forum as early as Monday.

"I believe the public has a right to know and review the information," Michael Sussman, the Henry family attorney, stated during a press call Friday afternoon.

Sussman refuted a reporter's claim that he asked to release the material to win over public sympathy.

"That's not the point of releasing the information," he said. "I'm not making it available to argue my case."

He said, instead, that he hopes the federal trial will be underway in less than one year.

The materials that will be released by Sussman include "literally hundreds and hundreds of items" he said Friday.

While he predicted 80-90 statements, audio and visual files will be made public by Monday afternoon, he said his office will continue to send out additional pieces of information as they weeks continue.

The first pieces of material include a video that shows Henry's car traveling in the Thornwood Shopping Center prior to the shooting.

"That does not show the shooting," Sussman clarified. "There is no video showing the police shooting."

However, the video that will be released, shows Henry's car was traveling at approximately 14.7 mph in the center, he claimed.

Other materials being released will include, but are not limited to, statements from Henry's friends who were in the vehicle at the time of his death, records showing Henry's arrival at Westchester Medical Center, Henry's cell phone records, statements from police "directly involved in the initial incident" and statements from students "who were trying to assist DJ and render aid to him being forced away at gunpoint by police."

Going forward, Sussman said supports of Henry who have also filed lawsuits against The county, village and town police departments and municpalities associated with the shooting (Pleasantville, Mount Pleasant and Westchester County) will be consolidated into the single federal complaint.

The case is still in discovery and Sussman predicted despositions "will proceed maybe in April."

For now, "I'd like you to be able to draw your own conclusions," he said.

Check back with Patch on Monday for coverage of the materials to be made public relating to the case.