Bengals WR Chris Henry dead at 26

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Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died Thursday morning after suffering head injuries when he fell from the bed of a moving pickup truck Wednesday during what police said was a domestic dispute with his fiancee, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. He had been on life support since he was admitted to the hospital. Henry was 26.

Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement Thursday morning that Rusty Guy, the team's director of security, was headed to Charlotte to offer the club’s assistance to Henry's family gathered there.

Henry’s agents, PlayersRep Sports Management, had issued a statement Wednesday night asking people to pray for Henry.

Henry’s condominium, with a Bengals door mat out front, was dark Wednesday night, as his immediate family, including his mother and brother, rushed to Charlotte.

Coach Marvin Lewis will make a statement at 11 a.m.

According to detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers responded to a call just before noon in reference to a person down a half mile from the house where Henry and his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, were staying. When officers arrived, they found Henry in the road with life-threatening injuries.

Henry was taken to Carolinas Medical Center.

Police say Henry had been involved in a “domestic situation.” Tonga had gotten into a pickup truck and driven away, police say. As she was driving, Henry jumped into the bed of the truck. A dispute continued between the two, and at some point Henry “came out of the back” of the truck.

The Homicide and Highway Interdiction Traffic Safety units are conducting an investigation. Police spokesman Robert Fey said no charges were filed Wednesday.

Henry was in Charlotte, where his fiancée’s family lives, to continue making arrangements for their March wedding. They arrived in North Carolina on Tuesday.

On Nov. 9, after what looked to be a season of much promise, Henry was placed on season-ending injured reserve after having surgery on his fractured left forearm.

He finished the season with 12 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was tough at first, but now I just have to roll with the punches and do what I need to do in order to get healthy,” Henry said last month after the injury.

Henry was drafted by the Bengals in the third round in 2005. He was known as a player with immense talent, but his promise was marred by legal problems.

During his first three seasons, his run-ins with the law included drug charges, to gun possession and, DUI. He served jail time for drinking in a Covington hotel room with underage girls.

After serving an eight-game disciplinary suspension in 2007, Henry appeared to be turning his life around. But on April 3, 2008, the Bengals released him after his fifth arrest in 28 months. Club president Mike Brown decided to re-sign Henry four months later in a move that was ridiculed by fans.

At the time of Henry’s return, Bengals offensive lineman Willie Anderson credited player relations director Eric Ball assistant strength coach Ray Oliver and director of security Guy for playing roles in bringing Henry back to the club.

“Those people busted their tails beyond duty helping him out,” said Anderson, who is no longer with the team. “He has found the end of the rainbow three or four times.”

During the time out of football, Henry said, he found out who his true friends were. That included Tonga, who had stuck by his side during the bad times and with whom he has been rearing three children.

“It was easy, because I think I know him better than a lot of people,” Tonga said this fall. “I knew what happened and what they’re saying wasn’t true. ,” she said three months ago. “Besides everything, I see him every day. Standing by him was a piece of cake.”

Since rejoining the club, Henry had seemed to have his life on the right path.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was a teammate of Henry’s for four seasons before leaving the Bengals this past offseason for Seattle, was saddened over the news of Henry.

“When he broke his arm, I texted him and told him that everything would work itself out,” Houshmandzadeh said. “It’s just weird when you’re doing bad and getting in trouble, the only thing that happens is you lose playing the game you love. When you turn your life around and then the most serious thing that can happen is you lose your life. It’s just crazy.”

Terrible day for Cincinnati and all football fans.

[Meacon Keaton]

The poor guy had his demons, but he was an awesome talent. Such a shame to see anybody go at the age of twenty-six.

[Evil Chase K]

My sympathies to his family and his three children.

[theburninator77]

Damn. RIP Chris Henry, I'm a Bengals and Chris Henry fan... this really sucks.

[TSFella]

Damn, I had a terrible feeling something bad was going to happen to him. I mean the guy had his troubles keeping a clean, problem-free lifestyle and as far as I know he was finally starting to "get it". This is such a shame. As an Eagles fan, I don't follow the Bengals that much but there was no denying that Henry had talent. If he could have just avoided so many of the issues that kept him back over the years. And again, it seemed like he finally got the picture and was ready to move on.

It's been a little while since I heard anything about him and for some reason, that bothered me and gave me this feeling. I don't know what else to say. With McNair passing away earlier this year due to a domestic situation and now this.. I really hope this isn't some growing trend.

[gunnar hendershow]

Such bad news to wake up to. RIP.

[Blaze09]

Damn, I had a feeling that I would wake up to bad news about this once going to bed. Someone and their family doesn't deserve this so close to Christmas, and that goes in general about everyone. The timing of this reminds me of when I lost my fan-dabi-dozi-granddad, and while yet he was a lot older and less known than Chris, that was a tough holiday for my family.I could only assume it will be the same for them. Something just tells me that his financee stop just too hard in shock once he jumped on the car, and in hindsight wish she could have that moment back. Sad, sad news.

RIP Chris Henry

[Magus978]

An absolute tragedy. He really was getting his life on the right track if we believe what we're being told by teammates of his.

I've gone and resized the obituary picture on ESPN.com for signature purposes. Feel free to use it if you wish.

RIP Chris Henry

1983-2009

Edited December 17, 2009 by Magus978