On August 6, 2020, 50-year-old Daniel Lee Banaszak Sr. was fatally shot at a residence in Pullman, Michigan. The incident occurred on a Thursday evening at a house on 55th Street, where deputies discovered Banaszak's body around 6:15 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man responsible for his death was 63-year-old Robert Eakins Jr.
The conflict between the two men stemmed from a disagreement over money and an eviction.
Eakins had hired Banaszak to help remove a tenant from his property without formal court proceedings. In the days leading up to the shooting, their relationship soured, with Eakins claiming Banaszak was harassing him and Banaszak accusing Eakins of paying him with counterfeit money. On the evening of the incident, Banaszak went to Eakins' home, where Eakins shot him in the back of the neck with a 12-gauge shotgun he had purchased earlier that day.
Eakins was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. He claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Banaszak was attempting to break into his home and had threatened his life. However, the investigation and subsequent trial brought forth evidence that contradicted his claim. The prosecution highlighted that Eakins had purchased the shotgun on the day of the murder and had made inquiries about self-defense laws, suggesting premeditation. Furthermore, there was no evidence of forced entry, and the fact that Banaszak was shot from behind indicated he was not in the process of breaking in.
Following an eight-day trial, an Allegan County jury convicted Robert Eakins Jr. of first-degree premeditated murder and a weapons offense. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, Banaszak's wife, Pamela, spoke of the profound loss their family, including six grandchildren, would endure. In a related civil matter, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed, alleging that the shotgun used in the murder was sold unlawfully to an individual who purchased it on Eakins' behalf, as he was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning a firearm.
