School’s ‘profound loss’
Slaying of crossing guard devastates Chelsea community
Students at a Manhattan private school are reeling after their crossing guard was shot to death on the subway while trying to quell an argument between strangers over loud music.
Dozens of bouquets were placed outside Avenues: The World School on Tenth Ave. in Chelsea on Tuesday, along with a poster filled with messages of love and appreciation for Richard Henderson, who was killed over the weekend.
“He was very important to so many kids,” Millen Magese, the mom of a first-grader who attends the school, told the Daily News on Tuesday.
“On Friday, he was just playing with him here,” Magese said of Henderson and her son. “But that's what he does. He was not just a crossing guard.”
Henderson was on a No. 3 train heading toward the Franklin Ave.-Medgar Evers College station in Crown Heights when shots rang out around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, according to police. The victim was shot in the back and shoulder, and the gunman took off, leaving the mortally wounded man on the train.
“He was more a grandpa to the little ones and a father to the older ones,” Magese reflected. “It's a lot, and I don't know how the kids are going to take it.”
Lake Oralkh, 10, said he played basketball with Henderson every day at Chelsea Park, a block and a half from the school. The crossing guard also accompanied younger children's classes on outings, according to parents.
“He would walk with me, and we would always be on the same team, no matter what,” said Lake.
“If he couldn't take a shot, he would always ask me. He was a generous guy,” the fifth-grader added.
Dina Gray shared her 13-yearold daughter's fond memories of Richardson.
“When my daughter was little, she used to talk about Richie, and I didn't know [he] was not a student,” said Gray, who is also the school's dance teacher.
“He played with the kids and knew the kids, and she talked a lot about playing with him on the playground — ‘Richie did this and Richie did that,' ” the mom recounted.
Shocked students set up a heartfelt online fundraiser for Richardson, writing: “Heroes often go unsung, but their acts of bravery and kindness echo in the hearts of those they've touched.”
Money raised from the effort will go toward Henderson's funeral and support for his children and grandchildren. The GoFundMe has raised over $150,000 in less than 24 hours.
“Rich was a peaceful man who never had a quarrel with the world but lost his life trying to quell one,” the fundraiser stated. “This profound loss has left his family, friends and community in a state of shock and grief.”
Donations have come in from parents of students, lifelong friends and people who didn't know Henderson at all.
“Your smile was a bright spot in so many of our days,” donor Teresa Hamm posted. “You were so conscientious when it came to your job, making sure we were safe and cared for. The kids lived for your fist bumps. You will be deeply missed.”
“The strong and most loyal protector of our community's children,” wrote Natasha Stefanik. “You were simply one-of-a-kind. 25th street will never be the same but it will be yours, always. We all love you ... New York loves you.”
Henderson was heading home Sunday night on the 3 train with a friend after watching a football game at another friend's home in East New York.
Another man got on the train at Junius Ave. and an argument over loud music between that man and another passenger broke out, according to police
Henderson interjected, urging them to stop quarreling, but the shooter opened fire twice in Henderson's direction as the train approached the Rockaway Ave. stop, cops said. Investigators are uncertain if the shooter was aiming at the victim or the man the gunman was arguing with, according to sources.
“It was two other people arguing about some music — and Richard, he's that type of person to try and resolve issues,” said Henderson's uncle Darryl Dockery. “He did what comes natural, which is to protect people . ... He's the type of person that will come to your aid without evening knowing you.”
The shooter got off the train at Rockaway Ave. while Henderson's pal fled to another car, apparently looking for help, the sources said.
Police found Henderson mortally wounded several stops later, when the train pulled into the Franklin Ave.-Medgar Evers College stop.
“He was very loved,” his uncle said. “A lot of people spoke so highly of him. He was a great, great man. He was a family protector.”