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One dead after Oakhurst shooting

Sierra Star Staff Report

(Updated: Thursday, December 22, 2011, 12:00 AM)

Former Oakhurst resident Danny Henley, 53, was shot and killed after attempting to murder Oakhurst resident Derry Burnett shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. The incident occurred at Burnett's residence on Snowline Court off Highway 41, just north of the closed Snowline Restaurant.

According to Madera County Sheriff's Department reports, Henley went to Burnett's property with the intent to shoot him. Burnett had previously allowed Henley to live on his property but, when Burnett found out that Henley was bringing stolen goods onto his property, asked Henley to leave.

According to Madera County Sheriff John Anderson, Henley returned to Burnett's property on Sunday because he thought Burnett was going to testify against him in a burglary case.

Henley reportedly broke into Burnett's shed and took a shotgun. When Burnett returned home, Henley confronted him and tried to shoot him but missed. Burnett retrieved a .45 caliber pistol from a vehicle parked on the property and fired at Henley from a relatively close range, Anderson said, hitting him twice -- once in the head and once in the chest.

Henley was transported by Sierra Ambulance to a helicopter and then transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno where he died that night around 10 p.m.

After an investigation by the Madera County Sheriff's Department, the sheriff is recommending that the district attorney look at the case as justifiable homicide (self-defense).

Henley was under investigation for vehicle and metal theft, and had just been released from jail two days earlier on Friday, Dec. 16. According to his booking record, he was jailed in September for driving on a suspended license, probation violation and for being wanted in Fresno on a $800,000 warrant for grand theft.