At about 4:02 p.m., sheriff’s say deputies were dispatched to a home in the 2200 block of 165th Street East in Spanaway, Washington for reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home.
They performed CPR until fire personnel pronounced the victim as deceased.
The victim was identified as Darryl Henderson.
The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Vendell Edward Henderson.
Vendell’s mother reported to 911 that her son shot his father. His mother said that Vendell drove off in his Toyota Camry.
Darryl’s 14-year-old son brought deputies into the home when they arrived. Darryl was lying on the floor and had two bullet wounds in his chest. Deputies began to perform CPR, and the 14-year-old boy told them that Vendell shot his father. Fire personnel pronounced the man dead at 4:19 p.m.
Deputies spoke to Vendell over the phone, and he sounded like he was crying. He was at a home on 42nd Avenue Court East. He agreed to come out after deputies went to the home. He was then taken into custody.
A man who lives in the home where Vendell surrendered spoke to deputies. The man said that Vendell came to his house unannounced, told him he got into an argument with his father and shot him.
At the shooting scene, Vendell’s 14-year-old brother told deputies that Vendell got into an argument with his father because he was having issues with his baby’s mother. Vendell was upset and allegedly screamed about wanting to shoot people.
The 14-year-old said he heard more arguing and then four gunshots. He allegedly saw Vendell drag their father downstairs and asked for help from their mother, prosecutors wrote. Deputies were advised Vendell placed the gun in his bedroom.
Vendell’s mother also told deputies that her son and Darryl were arguing. This was related to Vendell’s baby’s mother who was holding a party for their son. Darryl told his son to calm down, and that he needed to be there for his own child.
The argument continued and when Vendell went into his room, his mother said that Vendell asked his father to leave him alone. Vendell’s father said they needed to keep having the conversation and they continued to argue.
Right before the shooting, she said Vendell asked his father what he would do if he hurt himself. His father then “got in his face” and told him to “stop talking crazy.”
Vendell told his father to “stop getting in his face” because it was making him mad, she said. His mother told detectives the next thing she knew, Vendell allegedly grabbed the handgun and shot his father twice. She said she witnessed the shooting happen while outside the room.
Vendell’s mother also said her son was diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic.
In an interview with detectives, Vendell said he had not slept in three days because of stress and anxiety. He consumed ecstasy and cocaine at a friend’s earlier that morning and went home about 10-11 a.m.
Vendell said the argument with Darryl stemmed from his father giving unsolicited parenting advice. He said his father was absent most of his life due to being in and out of prison. Vendell told detectives just six months ago he pointed a gun at his father during an argument and then checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.
Prior to the shooting, Vendell said, his father stood over him, talking about his responsibilities and telling him that he needed to move out of the home. Vendell said they continued to argue for 3 to 5 minutes before he got the gun from under his pillow and allegedly shot his father.
Vendell allegedly said he shot his father in hopes of making him stop. He then attempted to load his father in his car to take him to the hospital but stopped at the front door.
Prosecutors charged Vendell with two counts of second-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
On December 31, a plea of not guilty was entered on Vendell’s behalf during his arraignment. Pierce County Superior Court Judge pro tempore Jack Nevin set Vendell’s bail at $1.5 million.
