Waffle House shooting: Henderson’s bond $1 million; victim’s family intimidated at funeral

At a tense bond hearing in Butts County superior court Tuesday, Judge Tommy Wilson set bond for alleged Waffle House shooter Robert Lewis Henderson Jr. at $1 million in property or $100,000 in cash.********************NOTICE:This story and photo(s) are under copyright. They may not be republished or disseminated in any form or format – including social media – without explicit permission.*********************Henderson, 36, is charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the death of Nicholas Phinazee Bryan, 27, of Milner on Halloween night at the Waffle House on Hwy. 36 East near I-75.Defense attorney Akil Secret argued for bond, noting Henderson had lived in Butts County all his life, worked in the family tree service business and was no threat to flee. Secret trotted out four character witnesses for Henderson. He also said codefendant Antonio DeMarty Evans, 39, is Henderson’s brother-in-law.Assistant district attorney Greg Futch noted the GBI probe into the shooting is ongoing and Henderson had been involved in a previous altercation in which he resorted to gunfire. Futch added the entire event at the Waffle House is on video. “The fight had ended. Mr. Bryan had been subdued. There was not a reason for him to shoot. That is the basis of this case,” Futch said.Should he be released on bond, Henderson will be subject to multiple bond conditions.”The family of the deceased has been threatened. They have been intimidated on social media. They were even intimidated at (Bryan’s) funeral,” Futch alleged.A crowd of about 120 was packed into the courtroom facility for the hearing.For much more on this story, see the 11.19.19 print edition of The Herald Gazette.