Former FAU student convicted of second-degree murder in University Park shooting (Update)
Donovan Malik Henry was found guilty by jury.
January 19, 2016
Update (1/19/2017): Donovan Malik Henry was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday on the charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and armed burglary of Nicolas Acosta in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, according to court documents on the case.
Henry was not charged as the man who fired the gun in the murder of Acosta, as another unidentified man who was with him shot the weapon.
A Florida Atlantic student involved in the death of fellow student Nicholas Acosta is not convicted of first-degree murder, but is still guilty of three criminal charges.
Donovan Malik Henry was found guilty of second-degree murder, robbery and burglary with a firearm in the shooting death of Acosta. The incident took place on Dec. 29, 2015 in a University Park apartment near FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
Henry, along with four accomplices, was involved in a robbery gone awry.
After Henry texted Acosta with the intent of purchasing marijuana from him, the group arrived at his girlfriend’s apartment where they planned on robbing the student. Police have said that accomplice Alexander Gillis, while wearing a camouflage hat and mask, ordered Acosta and his girlfriend to the ground and shot Acosta to death.
Up until the shooting, he was an FAU freshman soccer player studying engineering.
The jury acquitted Henry of first-degree murder. He will be sentenced on Jan. 19, 2017.
Check back with the University Press for updates as this story continues to develop.
Joe Pye is the news editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @jpeg3189.
Benjamin Paley is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @benpaley92