James Banks Jr., a 14-year-old African American boy from Dayton, OH, tragically lost his life on March 28, 2017. He was shot multiple times near his home on Wexford Place in Hilltop Apartments during what was initially an attempted robbery. Banks was an eighth grader at Wogaman Middle School and had a history of juvenile charges, including a recent arrest for felony burglary.
The suspect in Banks' death, 21-year-old Jalyn Simmons, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder and
aggravated robbery. Simmons had a very minor criminal record, consisting of only one traffic citation, which made his involvement in the crime particularly unusual. Police found eight shell casings at the scene and recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting.
Simmons was indicted on multiple charges, including murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, grand theft, and tampering with evidence. He was held on a $1 million bond and faced a court arraignment shortly after his arrest. The investigation revealed that Banks was the target of the robbery, but the details of what the perpetrators were after remained unclear.
The community and Banks' family were deeply affected by his death. His father, James Banks Sr., expressed his grief and emphasized that his son was a good child despite his troubled past. The superintendent of Dayton Public Schools also extended condolences and reaffirmed the district's commitment to keeping students and staff safe.
The tragic incident highlighted the ongoing challenges of violence in the community and the need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of young people.
