Bengals Attend Funeral Of Fallen Teammate Chris Henry

The entire Bengals organization, along with Commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL players, traveled to Lousiana Tuesday to attend Chris Henry's funeral. Henry died last week after falling out of the back of a pick-up truck in Charlotte, NC.

Some images from the service, all via Getty, including an open casket shot. You've been warned:

The Bengals announced Friday that Chris Henry will be laid to rest in Gretna, Louisiana next Tuesday the 22nd. The entire team is expected to charter a flight to attend. The Bengals will also honor Henry during their game in San Diego this Sunday by wearing No. 15 stickers on their helmets.

A sad story just got even sadder if reports of one eyewitness account are verified. USA Today is reporting that, according to a neighbor of Loleini Tonga, Chris Henry’s fiancee, Henry was threatening to kill himself if she did not stop the truck.

Tonga's neighbor, Lee Hardy, was perched on a 15-foot ladder cutting back some trees when he saw the yellow pickup "zooming" up the Tongas' gravel driveway just a few yards away.

Hardy said a shirtless black man clung to the top and side of the truck while standing in the bed, begging her to stop the vehicle.

“He was banging on the top, on the doors, screaming at the lady, ‘We need to talk,’” Hardy said. “He said, ‘If you take off, I’m going to jump off the truck and kill myself.’”

Hardy said she stopped, hesitating at the end of the driveway, and took off.

Soon afterward, emergency dispatchers got at least two calls to 911.

No charges have been filed as of yet and neither family had yet to release a statement.

Via SB Nation’s Bengals blog Cincy Jungle, which has more on Chris Henry here, comes video of Henry’ teammate Chad Ochocinco speaking to reporters on Thursday about the tragedy:

With the sports world still reeling and in shock over news of Chris Henry’s death, we’re all still trying to process things. The circumstances here are nearly as mysterious as the Tiger Woods crash, but where the latter teems with intrigue, here, there’s just tragedy.

In any case, a report from a Charlotte CBS affiliate sheds some light on the incident, including a synopsis of two 911 calls:

In the first call, a woman who was driving in the opposite direction told the 911 operator that a man was on the back of a pickup and he was beating hard on the glass.

The caller said a young girl appeared to be driving the truck. The caller told the operator the man was shirtless and had a cast on his left arm. The caller, who was taking her husband to work, was unable to provide any other details to the operator. […]

In the second call released by police, a man told the 911 operator that a large crowd had gathered around the spot where a man was lying in the middle of the road. The caller said the man appeared lifeless and ‘unconcious.’

It is unclear how fast the truck was traveling when Henry made contact with the pavement.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they found Henry suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Carolinas Medical Center and remained in critical condition overnight and passed away early Thursday morning.

Particularly when you consider one of those small details about Henry—“the man was shirtless and had a cast on his left arm”—you get the sense that this was just a bizarre, senseless situation that escalated beyond anyone’s imagination. You can listen to the 911 calls here and here, but honestly, this is a situation that needs no explanation or further investigation. Just a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Prior to his weekly chat on NFL.com, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say about the death of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

Before we get started, I want to say we are greatly saddened by today’s tragic news about the loss of Chris Henry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris’s family, including his Bengals family. We have been in contact with the Bengals to offer our support through this difficult time.

In light of this tragedy, it’s difficult to focus on football right, but we scheduled this chat and we will carry on. It’s been a great season so far and there is still a lot more football to be played, including the playoffs, the most wonderful time of the year, some would say. There are 24 teams still in contention for the Super Bowl and for the first time in NFL history we have two 13-0 teams. Congrats to the Colts and Saints. We appreciate all of your interest in and passion for the NFL.

I ask you to keep Chris Henry and his family in your thoughts today, and now I’ll take as many of your questions as I can. I’m looking forwards to learning what’s on your minds.

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and owner Mike Brown recently conducted a press conference to talk about the death of Chris Henry. The Cincinnati Enquirer has the most important quotes from it here.

[Marvin Lewis]: Laughed about Henry celebrating at rookie camp after catching his first deep ball in practice. He stuck his finger up in the air after the catch.

[Mike Brown]: Remembers talking with Henry at an X-mas party . Says Henry was gentle, alert, interesting to talk to. “He won me over.”

Via the Cincinnati Enquirer, Chris Henry’s agents, Andy Simms and Dave Lee of PlayersRep Sports, released the following statement about Henry’s tragic death.

“It is with great sadness to learn Chris has passed away. For those who knew Chris, he was nothing like his public perception. A loving and caring individual, he was thankful for what he had in life, and proud of what he had overcome.

Nobody worked harder to rehabilitate his image than Chris. He realized he made mistakes and made positive changes to his life. As a result of these changes, he had become a man that all Bengals, and NFL, fans could be proud of.

We ask that you keep Chris’ family – especially the young children he leaves behind – in your prayers. It is tragic when a life is taken so young. He was a man just realizing his potential, not just in football, but in life.”

Via WTLT.com, Bengals players, including quarterback Carson Palmer, discuss Chris Henry’s death with the media this morning.

Chris Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday morning, succumbing to injuries suffered after he was thrown from the bed of a pick-up truck Wednesday, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Henry was in serious condition overnight in a Charlotte hospital, and was said to be fighting for his life as of late Wednesday night.

Henry was just 26 years old.

According to the Enquirer’s Joe Reedy, there was no change in Chris Henry’s condition overnight after suffering life-threatening injuries in a car accident on Wednesday. Presumably this means Henry remains on life support and in serious condition at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

We’ll continue to keep you updated with any news on his condition.

Chris Henry's agent, Kenneth Rush, released a statement Wednesday night regarding his client:

"We ask everyone to pray for Chris. We also ask that you respect the privacy of Chris' family. Chris is indeed battling for his life tonight, and our thoughts and prayers are with him during this extremely difficult time."

Joe Reedy, Cincinnati Enquirer Bengals beat writer, reports that “Chris Henry’s mom and the rest of the family landing in Charlotte shortly.”

Henry is listed in “serious condition” and reportedly on life support in a Charlotte-area hospital after suffering injuries when he was thrown from a pickup truck earlier on Wednesday.

Reedy adds: “From everything I am hearing, Chris Henry is still alive.”

The Cincinnati Bengals put out a news report on their website at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, titled "Henry suffers life-threatening injuries."

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry suffered life-threatening injuries in a pickup truck accident in Charlotte, N.C., and is believed to be in critical condition. According The Charlotte Observer web site, Henry “came out” of the back of a pickup.

Henry, who has been on injured reserve since Nov. 9 with a dislocated forearm, is in the city of his girlfriend’s parents. The couple is planning to get married in March.

The first photos have emerged from Chris Henry’s accident scene on Charlotte’s WCNC website (via Chris Littmann).

From the Charlotte Observer:

Officers were called to Oakdale Road near I-485 just before noon in reference to a person down. When officers arrived, they found Henry in the road, with life-threatening injuries.

Paramedics transported Henry to Carolinas Medical Center, where he is being treated, according to police.

Police say Henry was involved in a “domestic situation” with his fiancee at 840 Peachtree Road. His fiancee, who police haven’t named, got into a pickup truck and drove away from the home. As she was driving, police say, Henry jumped into the bed of the truck.

The domestic dispute continued between the woman and Henry. At some point, Henry “came out” of the back of the vehicle. Police refused to elaborate on whether Henry fell or might have been forced out of the truck.

FOX Sports’ Alex Marvez is reporting that Chris Henry is on life support in a Charlotte hospital after being throwing from a pick-up truck Wednesday afternoon. Marvez is told that the situation is “dire.”

Contrary to a fake Twitter report Wednesday evening, Chris Henry is still alive, according to Charlotte police, although he is in serious condition. Although according to local news station WLWT out of Cincinnati, Charlotte homicide detectives have been called to the scene of the accident to investigate the incident.

The "very serious" injuries suffered by Chris Henry Wednesday in Charlotte were apparently the result of falling out of a pickup truck, reports NBC's affiliate, WLWT, and the wide receiver is now listed in "serious condition" at a Charlotte-area hospital.

According to FOX Charlotte, Henry had been arguing with his fiancée, who lives in the area.She drove away in a pickup truck, the station reported, and Henry jumped in the back and fell out as the woman continued driving.Henry suffered life-threatening in the incident, the TV station reported, and homicide detectives were sent to the scene, in the 800 block of Peachtree Road.

According to TMZ, Henry was involved in a a "domestic situation."

Cops say the fiancee tried to leave her home in

a pick-up truck -- when Chris ran after the truck and hopped into the bed.

Cops say , "At some point while [Henry's fiancee] was driving, Mr. Henry came out of the back of the vehicle."

Cops tell TMZ, Henry is suffering from "life threatening injuries."

The Charlotte Observer and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officials have confirmed that Chris Henry was involved in a car accident Wednesday afternoon, but won't say more.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was injured in a car wreck Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte, police said.

Police wouldn't describe the extent of the 26-year-old's injuries and have not said what happened in the wreck.

Team spokesmen have confirmed he suffered "very serious" injuries in Charlotte. The team said his girlfriend's parents live in Charlotte, though it's unclear if he was visiting them.