Diamond Jenkins
The Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
Jackson State University students, friends and family mourned the loss of Nolan Ryan Henderson III during a candlelight vigil Monday, March 26, on the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway.
The Atlanta, Ga. freshman’s life came to a tragic end at an off-campus pool party after he was shot Sunday, March 25 at the Palisades Apartments on Valley Street. The Palisades houses hundreds of Jackson State students, as well as other residents.
“It is a sad occasion as any other tragedy like this across the nation. Nolan could have been the next biochemist to discover a cure for cancer, the next minister to give hope, or the next president of Jackson State University. We lost him to violence …, all violence is senseless. We offer prayer and my condolences to the family at this dark time,” said Jackson State University President Carolyn Meyers.
She added: “Let us take a solemn vow to do all we can to stop violence. Be friends to each other and celebrate our victories together and push towards the Godliness in the friendship. What better way to remember Nolan than by coming together to take that vow.”
JSU Student Government Association President Matthew Thompson and Quentin Hendree Mr. Freshman, spoke about the character of Henderson amidst tears and uplifting songs by the Reformed University Fellowship Choir.
Henderson’s younger brother also spoke at the vigil remembering his brother’s life.
“I don’t know what to say. I am not prepared to speak, but Ryan meant the world to me and he was my best friend. Everything I do was for my brother,” said Damien Henderson.
Campus Minister, Rev. Elbert McGowan, who emceed the event, closed with a promise to students.
“For some of you, you will remember (Henderson) when you sit in the classroom and his seat is empty, or when you don’t see him at your favorite spot on the plaza. For some of you, you will remember him when he doesn’t come to your room to play a video game, and some of you won’t get a text from him. It’s going to really hurt,” he said.
He added: “Grief is real, and it’s a process, so we will commit to you as a university that we will be here, not just right now but in the days and months and years to come.”
Quendarious Riley, a freshman computer engineering major from Canton, Miss. said, “We as students need to do more things to stay out of trouble and be careful of who we socialize with. Although, I did not know Nolan, I was too affected by the killing because it could have been any one of my peers or me.”
Brittakneey Brown, a sophomore special education major from Chicago, Ill. said, “The incident that happened in the Palisades was a tragedy. It breaks my heart to know we have lost a friend and a mother has lost a child to yet another act of nonsense. What angers me is that no one had said anything to help catch this innocent student’s killer. As a student body, we need to speak up and use our voices. Not only when tragedy hits home; let us make the news for something positive.”
JSU’s loss came just hours after a campus shooting at Mississippi State University in Starkville where another student died.
Meyers said in a statement issued on Sunday: “This is a very tragic loss, and as a parent and grandparent, my heart goes out to Nolan’s parents, other family members and friends. We offer our sincerest condolences and prayers during this very difficult time,”
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant called Meyers on Sunday afternoon to offer support and any state resources the university may need. In the wake of the shooting, university officials has increased security, bringing in additional officers to patrol.
JSU officials ask that students take extra safety precautions and be prepared to show official university identification when requested. Counselors and campus ministers will continue grief counseling services throughout the week in the Meditation Room of the Student Center on JSU’s campus.
For more information on counseling, call 601-979-0374.
The Jackson Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from JSU’s Department of Public Safety.
Persons with information about the shooting are urged to call campus police at 601-979-2580 or Jackson Police Department at 601-960-1234.
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