Thursday, January 8, 2009
News Vigil for slain bartender draws hundreds
Posted by Joeff Davis @joeffly on Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Tears, laughs, prayers, cigarettes and calls for organizing against crime were the orders of business this morning at a vigil in front of the Standard Food & Spirits — where, one day earlier, 27-year-old bartender John Henderson was murdered during an armed robbery.
Police estimated that more than 200 people, including Henderson's friends and supporters, gathered to celebrate his life and discuss the tragedy at the popular bar and restaurant on Memorial Drive, near historic Oakland Cemetery in north Grant Park. Community residents circulated sign-up sheets and fliers for community action groups. Local filmmaker Kyle Keyser — himself a victim of a crime eerily similar to the one that took Henderson’s life — handed out a flier for a new group he's forming, called Atlantans Together Against Crime and Cutbacks. Keyser said he decided to form the group last night, after hearing about Henderson's death.
According to the AJC, Henderson and a female bartender were closing up the Standard at about 4 a.m., when four armed men threw a brick through the glass door and ordered them into the bar's office. Henderson was shot four times execution-style — twice in the head and once in each leg. He later died at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Brandon Barr, a regular at the Standard, stared off into space under the Standard sign as he recalled his memories of Henderson. “He was a great guy," Barr said, "and I came here to pay my respects.” Rubi Cuautle choked back tears and called for a boycott “of establishments that do not provide adequate security for their employees.” Kelly Dugan held a candle as she accepted deep hugs from well-wishers. “Steve was one of my really good friends," she said.
More photos from the vigil at our Sideshow Atlanta Blog
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Comments (3)
Showing 1-3 of 3
like
dislike
The website for Atlantans Together Against Crime and Cutbacks is: http://atlantanstogether.org While we build out the site further, there is an email list you can sign up for to stay informed. If you are interested in helping out, please let us know.
Shame on Rubi Cuautle for placing the blame of this on The Standard. There was very little they could have done to avoid this situation. The last thing we need to be doing is encouraging people to boycott local businesses. Otherwise, great article. Thanks for all the support, CL!
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
ARTWORKS and so can you!
WMLB 1690 AM launches ARTWORKS website with VARI-OKEY event
-
5 things to do: Justin Townes Earle, KC and the Sunshine Band
-
Chance White's Perfect Party: Remnant – A Post-Apocalyptic Steampunk Epic
Local filmmaker is part of the team making a steam punk epic for the Web, and talks about his experience winning the Atlanta 48HFP.
- More »
More by Author
-
Fences installed in front of Gold Dome 10
Traditional protest area on Gold Dome's western entrance surrounded by black fence
-
Pics of the Week
- More »
