Damian Henderson

Do you know who murdered Damian Henderson in 2014?
Damien Ramell Henderson, a 27-year-old Black man known to loved ones as "Big Dame," was a father of two daughters who was remembered as a funny, quiet, and honest man. Friends and family also called him a "Gentle Giant." He attended Edison Middle School and Champaign Central High School in his hometown of Champaign, Illinois. A dedicated father, Damien worked in automotive services at Tire Barn and also nurtured a creative passion for making beats and rapping. In the time leading up to his death, he was actively trying to make positive changes in his life for the sake of his children. He had even made plans to have lunch with a former high school basketball coach, seeking guidance and a positive influence.

The evening of Monday, November 17, 2014, was the last time Damien was seen or heard from. He had spent part of the day driving around town and meeting with a few different people. Investigators later learned that he had been in an argument with one of these individuals. As the night went on and he didn't return home, his family grew worried. His mother later recalled having a powerful intuition that something was terribly wrong. Her fears were confirmed the next morning. At 8:17 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, Champaign Police officers were dispatched for a welfare check in the 100 block of Forsythia Drive, at the intersection with Redbud Drive. There, in a quiet, dark area of the Shadowwood Mobile Home Park, they discovered Damien unresponsive inside a parked car. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.

The Champaign Police Department immediately began a homicide investigation. Detectives processed the crime scene, which they noted did not resemble other similar crimes in the area, and canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses. Despite their efforts, no one reported hearing a gunshot or seeing anything suspicious the night of the murder. The person with whom Damien had reportedly argued was interviewed but was not helpful to the investigation. With few leads and a lack of public information, the case soon went cold.

For years, Damien Henderson's case has remained unsolved, leaving his family, including his two daughters, without answers or justice. The investigation remains open with the Champaign Police Department, but no suspects have ever been publicly named, and no arrests have been made. Detectives continue to seek the public's help, believing that even a small, seemingly insignificant detail could be the key to breaking the case open.

The case of Damien Henderson is a quiet tragedy in Champaign, a city that, like many, grapples with the lingering pain of unsolved gun violence. His family is left to remember the man they loved—the gentle giant and devoted father who was trying to build a better future. As of January 2024, his homicide is still an active cold case.

Champaign County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the murder of Damien Henderson. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 217-373-TIPS (8477).