On duty in Linthorpe Village PC Henderson and Sgt Black agreed to assist a group of men, including a Doctor, to remove a local man suffering from a severe mental health episode to the Clifton Asylum in York. As the group, including both police officers, returned to the caravan encampment to find the male they saw him sat on a stool in possession of an old Army rifle. As the group spread out the male took aim and fired at PC Henderson, killing him instantly.