From [HERE] The Pleasantville police officer who fatally shot Danroy Henry Jr. was questioned for five hours Tuesday in a federal lawsuit filed by the dead Black student’s family, a session that the family’s lawyer said largely “vindicates” their position on the shooting. “It vindicates a great deal of what’s been said,” said lawyer Michael Sussman, who accuses officer Aaron Hess of unjustifiably killing the 20-year-old Pace University football player outside Finnegan’s Grill in Thornwood in October 2010.

Sussman questioned Hess from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with a 75-minute lunch break, pressing the officer on various matters related to the shooting. The deposition also was attended by Henry’s family — who is suing Hess, Pleasantville and Westchester County — and some of Henry’s friends who are involved in related civil rights lawsuits against the county, Mount Pleasant, Pleasantville and several police officers. The details of the deposition are expected to be held from public view for some time, though Zelman said she will pass transcripts on to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has said it is looking into the matter. Henry’s family has accused Hess of murder, though a Westchester County grand jury declined to criminally charge him.

Henry was shot outside the bar in the early morning hours after a homecoming game celebration. Police claim he was driving from a fire zone outside Finnegan’s when Hess fired into his Nissan. The officer, who claimed through his lawyer that the car was accelerating toward him, was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by a Westchester County grand jury.

Several witnesses, including passengers of Henry’s car, said he drove away because an officer had ordered him to leave the fire lane. Before he could slow down, Hess jumped in front of the vehicle, onto the hood, and started firing. The passenger in the car, Brandon Cox, told authorities that Henry slowed down before he was shot by police. [MORE] According to witness testimony, Henry was handcuffed and placed on the sidewalk, where he lay dying. He was left on the street for 15 minutes without any medical attention. [MORE]