Fun-Loving American College Grad Beaten to Death in Greece Bar Brawl

Fun-Loving American College Grad Beaten to Death in Greece Bar Brawl
NTD Television
7/9/2017
Updated:
7/9/2017

A recent graduate of the University of Arizona was beaten to death on a trip to Greece. Eight people were taken into custody after a bar fight on the Greek party island of Zakynthos.

Twenty-two-year-old Bakari Henderson was with friends in a bar in the tourist village of Laganas. Another patron approached his table, and a fight broke out.

The fight broke out around 3 a.m. and involved two groups of people who had been drinking extensively. The fight eventually spilled out into the street. According to The Washington Post, surveillance footage reveals the other men striking Bakari’s body even after he was already lying unconscious.

It’s not clear how the fight started or why Henderson was involved. Two people working at the bar, one of them a bouncer known for his violent temper, were arrested as suspects. The bouncer is originally from Serbia, but holds a British passport. The other bar worker is a Greek national. Six other men arrested are all Serbian tourists, identified via security camera footage. Police raided the hotel where they were staying to make the arrests. All eight appeared in court on Saturday and pleaded not guilty.

Bakari loved traveling, and was in Greece to take photos for his new clothing line. In interviews with ABC News, Bakari’s friends all describe him as a peacemaker, and never one to be involved in such conflicts. “Such a fun-loving person and he’s so easy going,” said Bakari’s friend Sam Hindsman. “So many people just loved him, so it was hard to believe.”

University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins published a statement when the news came out:

“All of us at the University of Arizona are shocked and saddened by the loss of our recent graduate, Bakari Henderson.

Our hearts and prayers are with his friends and family. I can only imagine the deep sense of loss they must be feeling at his untimely death. It is always a tragedy when a young life ends before it has really yet to begin.

Our staff in the Dean of Students office are reaching out to the faculty and staff across campus. We also are working with his student organizations and the affiliations he had on campus to offer support to those who knew Bakari.

I know I speak for the university community as I express deepest condolences to Bakari’s family and friends.”

Originally from Austin, Texas, Bakari attended the university on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business finance and entrepreneurship, and a certificate in sports management. He also did internships in Texas state government.

Friends set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to help with funeral expenses and to help bring Henderson’s body back from Greece. The effort brought in almost $21,000 in less than 24 hours.