Christopher Henderson Jr. sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Reginald Rogers Jr.

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — 

A Warren County jury found Christopher Henderson Jr. guilty of capital murder Friday in the 2022 killing of Reginald Rogers Jr., returning the verdict after a little more than an hour of deliberations. Circuit Judge Toni Terrett immediately sentenced Henderson to life in prison.

The verdict came after five days of testimony in Warren County Circuit Court, where jurors heard from investigators, witnesses and family members as prosecutors laid out what they described as a retaliatory gang-related killing.

Assistant District Attorneys Michael Warren and Branan Southerland argued that Henderson intentionally targeted Rogers on the night of the shooting after learning Rogers had stepped outside to smoke.

According to Warren, Rogers had been playing video games with A.J. Lumpkin on the night of the killing. Lumpkin allegedly told Henderson over the phone that Rogers had gone outside and was sitting in a vehicle. Prosecutors said Henderson then drove around the block, parked nearby, ran to the vehicle and opened fire. Rogers, who was sitting in the passenger seat, died at the scene on National Street in January 2022.

Jurors also listened to the emotional 911 call placed after the shooting, during which Rogers’ mother could be heard crying after finding her son’s body inside the vehicle.

Surveillance video introduced during the trial showed an individual firing multiple shots into the vehicle.

Prosecutors said Henderson had traveled to Vicksburg from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College that weekend with friends Jordan Harvey to attend his anunt funeral. Another friend Rosman Daniels was also with them on the night of the shooting.

Harvey, who was originally charged with murder, testified after prosecutors dismissed the charge in exchange for what they described as truthful testimony. Harvey told jurors the three men drove around the block before stopping near the scene. He said Henderson got out of the vehicle while Daniels was asleep in the back seat after drinking. Harvey testified he did not witness the shooting but said Henderson returned to the vehicle out of breath and said, “Checkmate.”

Harvey also testified that he and Henderson left Vicksburg the following day and traveled to Tougaloo College, where they sold the murder weapon for $250. He said Henderson later burned clothing in a wooded area near his brother’s home in Jackson. Harvey also testified they attempted to buy bleach after returning to school but their debit card was declined, prompting them to ask a bystander to purchase it after sending him money through Cash App.

Former Vicksburg Police Department investigator Eddie Colbert testified that detectives initially had no suspects. However, Henderson became a person of interest after his father contacted someone within the police department asking whether his son had been involved in a shooting.

Jurors viewed text messages exchanged between Henderson and his father the day after the killing. In one message, Henderson’s father asked, “Did you have anything to do with that mess last night?” Henderson replied, “No dad I wouldn’t kill someone right down the street.”

Colbert also testified that Henderson’s father continued questioning his son through text messages, including one that read, “Are you sure you didn’t have anything to do with that mess. I’m not your mom, you can talk to me.” Prosecutors argued Henderson’s father told his son he appeared nervous during the exchanges.

Vicksburg Police Department investigator Curtis Judge testified that Henderson’s father contacted him a few days after the shooting to ask whether his son’s name had surfaced in the investigation. Judge said the two later met, and he encouraged Christopher Henderson Sr. to bring his son in for questioning.

Southerland told jurors Henderson’s father repeatedly questioned his son about whether he had been involved in the killing.

Vicksburg police officers Erich Jerscheid and John Nguyen also testified during the trial.

Colbert testified that his investigation revealed an ongoing feud between two groups known as the Low End Boys and the Cairo Boys. According to Colbert, Henderson was affiliated with the Cairo Boys while Rogers associated with the Low End Boys.

Colbert further testified that Kameron Logan, whom he identified as a Cairo Boys affiliate and friend of Henderson, had been killed before Rogers’ death. Colbert told jurors he believed Rogers was murdered in retaliation for Logan’s killing.

Jurors also learned Henderson allegedly sent a text message to a group chat minutes after the shooting.

Another piece of evidence shown during the trial was a music video featuring Henderson. Colbert testified Henderson could be heard saying, “Boom Boom this for bro,” which Colbert said matched a phrase Henderson allegedly used in a Snapchat video recorded after Rogers’ death. Colbert also testified Henderson appeared to be holding an AR-style rifle in the music video.

According to Colbert, the video, which was released months before Rogers was killed, depicted participants acting out how a murder would be committed.

Harvey testified that he was eventually arrested on a college football field, while Henderson was arrested at a later date.

During closing arguments, Warren and Southerland urged jurors to return a guilty verdict, emphasizing testimony from multiple witnesses, including Henderson’s mother and sister, who said they saw Henderson, Harvey and Daniels leave together in the vehicle on the night of the shooting.

Defense attorney Tracie Herring argued the state’s case relied heavily on Harvey’s testimony, pointing out prosecutors dismissed his murder charge just six days before trial in exchange for his cooperation.

After deliberating for a little more than an hour, the jury found Henderson guilty, and Judge Terrett sentenced him to life in prison.