Star HS Athlete Dies In Hospital

(UPDATED 5:44PM)

A former local high school football star died Monday after being shot in San Francisco's Bayview District last month.

David Henderson, 21, of San Francisco, died at San Francisco General Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Henderson, a San Francisco resident who attended Abraham Lincoln High School and was playing on the semi-professional Pacifica Islanders football team, was injured in a shooting reported about 12:05 p.m. on May 26 in the 1400 block of Kirkwood Avenue. Emergency responders took him to San Francisco General Hospital, police said.

According to a fundraising page supporting Henderson's recovery that was set up by the Pacifica Islanders, he was shot three times, and one of the bullets severed his spinal cord. Henderson played running back and defensive back for the team, according to its website.

Brian Martinez is a coach and part owner of the Islanders. He was in San Francisco at the hospital when Henderson died. "A specialist came in from UCSF and basically said that David didn't have any brain activity, and that there was no chance of recovery for him."

"It was hard," Martinez continued, "seeing a life that young taken away. My wife and I were able to go inside of his room and say our goodbyes. There was a line of people waiting to say goodbye."

Tom Piccolotti is also a coach and part-owner. "We are devastated as a family, the Pacifica Islanders; we lost a family member. I do have some sense of relief, knowing that he is not suffering from his injuries."  Piccolotti continued. "He was such a vibrant person, its hard to imagine him any other way but vibrant and explosive with positive energy. Our hearts go out to the family of David Henderson, and especially to David's mother Zena Bell."

Martinez also spoke for the Islanders. "The team is definitely upset, but i think they will use it as a motivational tool. I know they want to win the championship for David."

Police have not announced any arrests in the Bayview shooting. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.

-Bay City News