A 22-year-old man from Austin was killed while vacationing on a Greek island Friday morning and two people have been arrested.
Bakari Henderson was allegedly beaten to death by around 10 people at a bar on the island of Zakynthos, in an attack that lasted 30 seconds, according to an Athens-based newspaper.
KXAN spoke with one of Henderson's childhood friends, John Gramlich, who called him a teammate, a traveling buddy, and a best friend.
”I met Bakari in elementary school," Gralmich recalled. ”Immediately once I met him I knew he was going to be one of my best friends. We got along really well, he's got a really contagious smile, whenever he walks into a room he really fills the room up."
When Gramlich thinks back on growing up, most memories include Henderson.
”We played basketball together, we traveled to Europe together, we've done practically everything together," he said. But then, Friday afternoon, his phone rang.
”I got a phone call from a friend who saw the article and at first didn't want to believe it," Gramlich said, calling Henderson's brother to confirm. ”We were just all in disbelief and shock that that could happen to Bakari."
Gramlich told KXAN he's part of a tight-knit group that's remained close throughout the years. It's in these hours that these friends are now turning to each other.
