February 11, 2022

Defendant Guns Down Stranger for ‘Lookin’ at Him the Wrong Way

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against a man accused of shooting and killing another man at a hotel where they both lived. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Wednesday against 47-year-old Sean Henderson on charges of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting death of 36-year-old Derrick Hinton. It took the jury only 13 minutes to reach their verdict.

The fatal incident occurred on August 29, 2019 at The Knights Inn in the 2900 block of Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, where Defendant Henderson and the victim, Derrick Hinton, both lived. According to the investigation, Henderson shot Hinton after a brief argument in the doorway of the room where Hinton, his girlfriend and their children resided. Witnesses heard gunshots and saw a shirtless man standing over Hinton with a gun before walking away from the room. As the suspect walked away, he told the victim’s girlfriend, who had been standing in the doorway of another room, that Hinton, “…was lookin’ at me.” Hinton was shot three times. His girlfriend rendered aid until police responded to the scene. Hinton was transported to Atlanta Medical Center when he succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation revealed Defendant Henderson called an acquaintance to pick him up after the shooting, help him gather his belongings, and take him to a new hotel. During the drive, Henderson told the acquaintance that Hinton had said something smart to him, so he shot him.

Defendant Henderson was captured on surveillance video fleeing the scene of the crime at The Knights Inn. He was arrested the next day at another hotel with the murder weapon and was later identified by witnesses in a lineup. He initially denied shooting the victim, but claimed at trial that Hinton had tried to attack him with a plastic broom so he shot him in self-defense. 

Following his conviction, Defendant Henderson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole plus 5 years by DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Allison Layton of the Homicide and Gangs Unit, with assistance from DA Investigator Matt McLendon, Victim Advocate Yuzellie Garcia, and legal intern, Steve François. Detective C.A. Tappan of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation.