A Florida man was convicted of murdering a friend after an argument over Donald Trump resulted in the man stabbing the victim to death, according to authorities.
Donald Henry, 38, was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Shawn Popp, according to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office. The incident took place on October 22, 2022, at a home in the 6000 block of SW Shores Avenue in Arcadia. Deputies stated in a probable cause arrest affidavit that paramedics pronounced Popp dead on the scene. Officers quickly arrested Henry.
One witness told detectives that a group of people were smoking marijuana at the house when Henry and Popp got into a “argument over Donald Trump” while the suspect sharpened a knife. When the argument became too loud, another witness told the couple to “take it outside,” according to the affidavit. A short time later, Henry pushed Popp back through a sliding glass door and stabbed him in the chest.
“You stabbed me, son of a b—,” Popp said, according to the affidavit.
Popp walked out and across the street before collapsing.
Following Miranda, Henry claimed self-defense. He said he and Popp were talking in the living room when they got into an argument about “Donald Trump filing for bankruptcy.” The complaint provided no further explanation for the argument. After a while, Popp left the house before returning and “was talking to him like he was stupid,” Henry told police. Henry claimed Popp began punching him in the face, which triggered his “training” and caused him to “hit Shawn once.”
When asked to clarify, Henry told deputies he hit him with a kitchen knife. He claimed he stabbed Popp in the upper chest “because he was taught to stop the threat, like police officers are,” cops wrote. He claimed that he saw fists as “deadly weapons.” However, cops discovered no injuries on him that indicated he needed to defend himself.
Henry was taken to the DeSoto County Jail and has been there ever since. His sentencing is scheduled for October.
