Anthony Kristopher King, a 20-year-old Black male, was found dead on October 8, 2020, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Deputies from the Guilford County Sheriff's Office responded to a call regarding a possible assault victim on Cannan Forest Road. Upon arrival, they discovered King deceased from "obvious traumatic injuries," indicating he was the victim of a homicide.
The investigation into King's death led to the arrest of two suspects: Howard Hakeem Banks and Amari Alan Jackson, both 22 years old at the time of their arrests.
Howard Hakeem Banks was arrested on September 3, 2024, and charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He is currently being held in the Guilford County jail under a $1,000,000 secured bond. Amari Alan Jackson, who was already in prison for an unrelated offense, faces the same charges. Warrants for Jackson's arrest were issued, and he will be served in the near future. The investigation, which took nearly four years to yield arrests, was aided by ten anonymous tips submitted through the Greensboro Guilford Crime Stoppers program.
The arrests of Banks and Jackson have provided some relief to King's family, though the pain of losing their loved one remains. King's mother, Kristy King, expressed her heartbreak in a statement, describing her son as her best friend and lamenting the loss of a beautiful person with a good heart. She emphasized that while the arrests offer some sense of justice, the pain of losing her son is a constant nightmare.
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information related to the homicide and encourages anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing, and the community's support is crucial in bringing closure to King's family and ensuring justice is served.
