A man once facing a capital murder charge in the 2019 death of Nassau Bay Police Sgt. Kaila Sullivan has now been convicted of a lesser charge, according to official court records.
What Happened in 2019
The case dates back to December 2019, when Tavores Henderson was being arrested during a traffic stop over an outstanding warrant. According to police, Henderson managed to escape custody, get back into his vehicle, and in the process, struck Sgt. Sullivan with the car.
Sgt. Sullivan, aged 43, died from her injuries. The incident triggered a large-scale manhunt, and Henderson was captured two days later in southeast Houston.
Court Verdict: Guilty of Aggravated Assault
This Thursday, a jury found Henderson guilty of aggravated assault, a charge lower than the initial capital murder charge he had faced. The verdict was delivered after a trial that revisited the events surrounding Sgt. Sullivan’s death.
While capital murder could have carried the death penalty or life in prison without parole, aggravated assault carries a lighter sentence, though it still reflects the seriousness of the crime.
Sentencing Ahead
Henderson is now scheduled to be sentenced on Monday. The exact punishment will be determined based on the jury’s verdict and the judge’s decision.
The conviction marks a major development in a case that shook the Nassau Bay community and law enforcement across Texas. While the charge has been reduced, the outcome still brings some measure of accountability in the loss of Sgt. Kaila Sullivan — a respected officer whose life ended in the line of duty.
