In the late hours of a November night in 2016, the life of 35-year-old Katrina M. Banks, a respected nurse, came to a tragic end inside her Henrico County, Virginia, home. Just after midnight on November 21st, her husband, Alvin Banks, ran to a nearby fire station, frantically telling firefighters he had accidentally shot his wife. When police arrived at their Orion Court residence, they discovered Katrina's body in the basement.
The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of
a domestic argument that escalated with deadly consequences. Alvin Banks, a 45-year-old former Marine, admitted to authorities that he and his wife had been arguing. He claimed the shooting was an accident, a desperate attempt to quiet the dispute. Investigators found three shell casings and three bullet holes in the living room, suggesting a more volatile scene. One of the bullets traveled through a wall and into the bedroom where the couple's two-year-old daughter was sleeping. Their seven-year-old was also in the home at the time.
Alvin Banks was arrested and initially charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder, along with child endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. Prosecutors argued that the act was intentional and malicious, stemming from the heated argument. They pointed to Alvin's own statements that he decided to get the gun before the shooting occurred.
The case went to trial in November 2017. The defense maintained that the shooting was a tragic accident, arguing the fatal shot may have ricocheted before striking Katrina. In a verdict that shocked many, a jury found Alvin Banks not guilty of murder and the associated firearm charge. He was, however, convicted of unlawfully discharging a firearm inside the home and two counts of child neglect. The jury recommended a sentence of 16 months in jail and fines. Having been in jail for nearly a year awaiting trial, he was given credit for time served.
