KINGMAN – A Mohave County sheriff’s deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of a non-compliant man at his home in Golden Valley. The Mohave County attorney’s office has determined that Deputy Jose Cardenas was justified when he shot and killed Jason Matthew Henke, 42, on July 29.
Henke was named in three criminal arrest warrants charging him with eight counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of disorderly conduct involving a weapon, stalking, threatening, harassment, unlawful flight and indecent exposure at the time of his death. Cardenas reportedly learned that Henke could be located at his home in the 3600 block of N. Santa Maria Road.
Cardenas’ deadly encounter with Henke at that address is detailed by the Kingman Police Department (KPD), which conducted an independent investigation of the fatal shooting.
“The deputy contacted Henke and observed a firearm was within Henke’s possession,” states a KPD press release, concluding its investigation. “Henke was ordered not to reach or grab the gun. Ultimately, Henke reached for his firearm and the deputy fired multiple rounds striking Henke. Henke succumbed to his injuries and died on scene.”
Chief Deputy Mohave County Attorney James Schoppmann provided more detail following his review of the investigation, bolstered by surveillance camera footage within Henke’s home. Schoppmann said Cardenas entered the trailer to find Henke seated on a couch with a handgun next to his right leg.
Cardenas reportedly told Henke he was being arrested for the warrants and ordered him to stand.
“Henke is aggressive and responds that he is not going to jail and that Cardenas is going to have to shoot him. This exchange continues for over three minutes with Cardenas showing enduring restraint. During this time Henke makes multiple defiant and animated movements with his hands and body,” Schoppmann said. “Toward the end of the encounter, Cardenas reports that Henke leans again and Cardenas loses sight of his hand and Cardenas fires his weapon into Henke’s chest area.”
Cardenas told investigators that Henke leaned forward and chuckled while telling him he told him he’d have to shoot him.
“At that moment, Cardenas fires a final round into the head of Henke,” Schoppmann said. “Cardenas was in a grave situation and reacted in a way the he reasonably felt was necessary to protect and preserve his own safety as he believed Henke was reaching for his gun to shoot Cardenas. The video footage, witness account, and other physical evidence confirms deputy Cardenas’ version of events and supports the reasonableness, immediacy, and necessity of his actions.”
Dave Hawkins
