In the summer of 2021, a fatal encounter in Marietta, Georgia, claimed the life of 30-year-old Norval Brewstar Bailey. On the evening of June 15th, Bailey was discovered lying in the middle of Massachusetts Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported him to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation quickly pointed to a violent altercation, and within a day, law enforcement had identified a primary suspect and two accomplices.
The man authorities identified as the shooter was 17-year-old Donald 'Lil Ghost' Bannister, a known member of the 2Solid street gang, which has ties to the Bloods. While one of his accomplices, 30-year-old Sherman Johnson, was apprehended and charged with tampering with evidence, Bannister managed to evade capture and spent over a year as a fugitive. His time on the run came to an end in August 2022 when he was tracked to a residence in East Point and arrested by a team of U.S. Marshals and SWAT officers.
Following his arrest, Bannister faced a string of serious charges, including murder, aggravated assault, and violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The investigation revealed that the shooting occurred during a dispute over a marijuana transaction. In November 2023, Donald Bannister, then 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, among other charges. He admitted to his membership in the 2Solid gang, which he had been a part of since he was 15 years old. For his role in the death of Norval Bailey, Bannister was sentenced to 30 years, with the first 19 to be served in prison.
