Bouncer Not Charged With Attempted Murder for Inflicting Brain Injury

By Merylee Robbins

Published on August 01, 2005

On the night of the injury, LaSalle had been escorted from the bar for displaying erratic behavior. After leaving the bar, La Salle and a friend returned to retrieve their sweatshirts, which they had left behind. Upon reaching the bar, La Salle was confronted by Henry who shoved him backwards with two hands to keep him from reentering the bar.

Henry continued to push LaSalle away from the entrance until the patron was pinned against a staircase railing. As Henry turned to alert another bouncer, he pushed LaSalle over the railing and down thirteen feet onto the concrete. LaSalle sustained a broken wrist, jaw and fractured eye socket and remained in a coma for three weeks.

After viewing surveillance video footage of the incident, a Philadelphia judge dismissed the most serious felony charges against Henry, while keeping charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment. The judge agreed with the defense that Henry's actions were neither malicious, nor intended to kill LaSalle.
The Assistant District Attorney, Beth Grossman, disagrees with the ruling and maintains that Henry was grossly reckless. LaSalle and his family hope that their civil suit against Henry and Fat Tuesday's will compensate David for the medical bills and permanent injuries he has as a result of that night.

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