Donald Henry, 38, was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his friend, Shawn Popp. The tragic incident occurred on October 22, 2022, at a home in the 6000 block of SW Shores Avenue in Arcadia, Florida. Paramedics pronounced Popp dead at the scene after he was stabbed by Henry during a heated argument. Deputies quickly arrested Henry following the incident.
The Argument That Escalated
According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, a witness reported that a group of people were at the home smoking marijuana when Henry and Popp began arguing over Donald Trump. During the argument, Henry was seen sharpening a knife. The dispute became increasingly loud, prompting another person to ask them to “take it outside.” Soon after, Henry shoved Popp into a sliding glass door and stabbed him in the chest. Popp reportedly said, “You stabbed me you son of a b—,” before walking outside, collapsing across the street.
Henry’s Self-Defense Claim
After being read his Miranda rights, Henry told investigators that the confrontation began in the living room when he and Popp argued about “Donald Trump filing for bankruptcy.” Henry claimed that Popp returned to the home and began insulting him, referring to him as “stupid.” Henry stated that Popp then started punching him in the face, and that his “training” kicked in, prompting him to “hit Shawn once.” When pressed for clarification, Henry admitted to using a kitchen knife and said he stabbed Popp in the upper chest to “stop the threat” in a manner similar to police officers’ training. Henry explained that he considered fists to be “deadly weapons.” However, investigators found no injuries on Henry’s body to support his self-defense claim.
Investigation and Arrest
Despite Henry’s claim of self-defense, the authorities did not find sufficient evidence to support it. He was taken into custody and has remained in the DeSoto County Jail since the incident. Henry’s sentencing is scheduled for October, where he will face the consequences of his actions following the fatal argument.
