DJ Henry's Police Shooting Death To Get New Review From New York Investigators

BOSTON (CBS) - The 2010 deadly police shooting of DJ Henry of Easton will be getting a second look.

Henry, who was Black, was a 20-year-old Pace University junior in October 2010 when he was shot and killed by a white Pleasantville, New York police officer during a chaotic scene outside a bar.

The Westchester District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that it will join a former federal judge in a new review of the case.

"In the 3,088 days since our son was killed, we have simply asked for an objective review of the absolute truth surrounding his killing. We welcome today's news as a necessary and overdue step which we hope will lead to some more just outcome," Henry's parents, Danroy Henry, Sr. and Angella Henry, said in a statement Thursday.

Henry was out with friends in Pleasantville when some other people started fighting. Police showed up and officer Aaron Hess jumped on the hood of Henry's car and shot him to death. Hess was never indicted and he retired from the Pleasantville police department with his pension.

The Department of Justice determined there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges in the case.

"When a person's life is taken under questionable circumstances there ought to be a fair review right away," Danroy Henry Sr. said.

Henry's family has been fighting to reopen the investigation.

"Ideally, we would like to see him convicted and we know we will get there," Henry's sister Amber said in a statement.

DJ's parents say societal change is now on their side as the circumstances are finally reviewed.

"Since George Floyd's public murder I think there has been this cry for justice, for so many people are coming together and rallying saying there needs to be more accountability, which we have been saying since day one," Angella Henry said.

District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah says she has not prejudged and can't say if any further action will be taken, but the Henrys are hopeful.

"We're not done yet, far from it," Danroy Henry Sr. said. "This is just a step. Hopefully this step leads to a reopening, and then a reopening leads to an indictment and indictment leads to a conviction."

The Henry family reached a $6 million settlement with the officer and Pleasantville in 2016.