Suspect pleads not guilty to murder, robbery and assault charges
On the night Chad Aaron Herring was shot in the back of the head in his girlfriend’s car, murder suspect Kevin Babe Henderson was identified as the same gunman who fired at two teens on Evergreen and Bowman streets on Nov. 12, just hours before Herring’s death.
Henderson faced 10 felony charges during a 9 a.m. Friday Recorder’s Court hearing, including one count of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, armed robbery and six counts of firearm possession charges. Represented by public defender Robin King, Henderson pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Judge Michael Cielinski ordered him held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail.
Police Sgt. Ken Hudson said two teens were fired on about 6 p.m. A 15-year-old was shot in the chest and another avoided gunshots by fleeing. Police found several shell casings in the area.
Shortly before midnight, police discovered Herring, 32, slumped over in the front seat of a 2009 Chevy Impala near Brewer Elementary School. He had a bullet wound to the head.
During an investigation into Herring’s death, Hudson said police found video of the Impala at a local business. Henderson’s print was found on the back seat, leading to the murder warrant.
Police didn’t identify the business because Henderson is a known gangster.
Using surveillance photos and witnesses, Hudson said Henderson was identified as the suspect in the Nov. 11 armed robbery of the Circle K at 3274 Victory Drive. He is accused of entering the business about 11:25 p.m., pointing a 380 caliber or 9mm pistol at the clerk and demanding money from the register.
After he was identified, police went to Henderson’s home on Goodson Drive where his mother identified him from the store photos.
Susan Herring, the victim’s mother, listened to the testimony and choked back tears while talking about her son. She hugged the two teens who were shot at that night.
The boys didn’t testify at the hearing. Herring’s mother said there could have been three deaths instead of one.
“I told them to stay out of gangs, get an education,” she said.
The mother said she doesn’t know why the suspect was in the car with her son. “I have no idea,” she said.
She described Chad Herring as a person who made some bad decisions in life but was a good person. “He had a good sense of humor,” she said. “He would give you the shirt off his back.”
Herring said she is hurt by the unanswered questions. “I have so many questions and no answers and that’s what hurts so bad,” she said.
This story was originally published January 23, 2015 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Suspect pleads not guilty to murder, robbery and assault charges."