The gunman who shot dead a beloved school crossing guard on a Brooklyn train over the weekend snarled “I ain’t having this today” at another rider before the deadly altercation, police said Thursday.
The chilling revelation came as the NYPD released the first images of the still-at-large killer who mowed down 45-year-old Richard Henderson when he intervened in a fight between two men over loud music on a northbound 3-train Sunday evening.
Henderson, a father of three and grandfather of two young girls, was heading home after watching an NFL game with a pal when the fight erupted, police and sources said.
“From witness testimony, our shooter stands up and approaches the male playing the music and makes the statement, ‘I ain’t having this today,’ and approaches the male in an attempt to get him to turn down the music,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters Thursday.
“When the dispute then occurs, Mr. Henderson tries to intervene to calm the situation down, which resulted in him getting shot.”
Based on witness statements, the shooter was aiming at Henderson when he opened fire – striking him twice in the torso as the train pulled into the Rockaway Avenue station, Kenny said.
He was taken to the Kings County Hospital Center, where he was initially listed in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
Photos released by the NYPD early Thursday show the gunman – described as having a dreadlock hairstyle and a dark complexion – wearing a black jacket with a black hood, dark-colored sneakers, and dark colored pants.
He appears to be walking in the mezzanine area of the station.
“We’ve uncovered some new video. From that video, we were able to get some stills while we’re working with those and we’re going to get those out to the public and to the media asking for assistance,” Kenny said.
“We’d also like to interview the male that was playing in the music,” he added. “Facial recognition has given us one witness that we’re trying to track down and we’re just gonna go from there.”
A $3,000 reward is available for anyone who provides information on the gunman, Kenny said.
Henderson’s friend, Anthony Williams, 53, who witnessed the deadly shooting, previously told The Post he relives the moment he watched his pal “bleeding to death” each time he shuts his eyes.
“I’m still nervous. I don’t sleep — not too good, not good,” Williams said Tuesday.
“When I close my eyes, I see Richie, my best friend,” Williams continued. “I see him bleeding to death and the train wouldn’t stop.”
Williams said he and his friend “weren’t doing nothing” to provoke aggression, but the unidentified gunman opened fire and hit the Crown Heights resident in the back and shoulder.
Students and associates of the Avenues The World School, the private school where Henderson worked as a crossing guard, launched a GoFundMe campaign for the beloved employee late Monday night.
“Richard’s life was a mosaic of selflessness and dedication,” they wrote in the description of the verified fundraising campaign page. “For over a decade, he served as a crossing guard, shepherding young lives safely, a role that mirrored his innate desire to protect and care for those around him.”
The page became a forum for past and current students to share memories of the easygoing crossing guard with the “biggest most beautiful heart” in the comments.
By Thursday, the GoFundMe had raised more than $285,000 of its $315,000 goal.
