A Palm Beach County jury found Quinton Henderson Jr. guilty of first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder on Thursday in connection with a May 2023 car chase and shooting that left one man dead near West Palm Beach. Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, with the conviction now exposing him to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole.
According to WPEC, Henderson was behind the wheel of a BMW SUV alongside two armed accomplices when he chased and shot at a Volkswagen SUV on May 9, 2023. The pursuit ended when the BMW crashed into a pole, an impact that ejected one man from the vehicle and killed him. Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox announced the verdict, confirming the jury found Henderson guilty on both counts.
A newsroom announcement from the Office of State Attorney 15th Judicial Circuit describes the fatal chase and shooting in suburban West Palm Beach, with Henderson pursuing the Volkswagen SUV before the deadly crash. Assistant State Attorneys Mathri Thannikkotu and Jo Wilensky prosecuted the case, while the underlying investigation was led by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the same office notes.
What Henderson Faces at Sentencing
Florida law leaves little room for judicial discretion once a first-degree murder conviction is secured. Under Section 782.04(1) of the Florida Statutes, the offense is classified as a capital felony carrying a mandatory penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, according to the Brancato Law Firm.
The case also involves firearm enhancements that can further lock in lengthy prison time. Florida Statute § 775.087, known as the 10-20-Life law, mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years to life without gain time when a firearm is discharged during a violent felony that results in death or great bodily injury, per the same firm's analysis of the statute. Separately, attempted second-degree murder under Florida Statutes § 782.04(2) and § 777.04 is generally a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years, but discharging a firearm during the offense reclassifies it as a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years or life, according to Leppard Law.
A New Chief Prosecutor Oversees the Case
The conviction marks a notable moment for Cox, who assumed office as the chief prosecutor for Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit after winning election in November 2024. She succeeded 12-year State Attorney Dave Aronberg, under whom she previously served as Chief Assistant State Attorney, making her the first Black and female State Attorney in Palm Beach County history, according to the Office of State Attorney 15th Judicial Circuit.
The office she now leads handles felony prosecutions across Palm Beach County with roughly 120 prosecutors and 180 professional staff working out of five regional branch offices, the same office reports. Its main offices sit adjacent to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach.
Firearm Charges in Henderson's Case
The case involved firearm-related charges.
Henderson's sentencing is set for October 28 in Palm Beach County circuit court, where the mandatory life term for first-degree murder is expected to anchor whatever penalty the court ultimately imposes.
