Man Went on Shooting Spree after Telling 17-year-old Girl To Date Him

 

In a harrowing sequence of events, the tranquility of Tampa, Florida, was shattered as 42-year-old Michael Monroe Banks unleashed a shooting spree, allegedly triggered by discussions of eviction following his involvement with a teenage girl. The disturbing incident, laid out in documents obtained by Law&Crime, paints a grim picture of domestic turmoil.

Banks finds himself facing a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, and felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities, cognizant of his troubled history, advocate for his detention without bond, setting the stage for a critical hearing this Wednesday.

The saga began with 911 calls flooding in at 12:42 a.m. last Wednesday, reporting a shooting on the 10000 block of N. 23rd Street in Tampa. Survivors, including a 60-year-old woman, detailed the horror of being shot by Banks at the location. Responding officers discovered the woman and her 17-year-old granddaughter outside the home.

The turmoil escalated when Banks fired shots at an officer from the backyard but eventually surrendered, emerging from the home. Tragically, a woman inside the home was found dead, a victim of a gunshot to the head.

Revelations unfolded as the grandmother disclosed that discussions of eviction stemmed from Banks's inappropriate relationship with the teenager. Accounts from the chaotic scene depict Banks standing over the now-slain victim after firing shots. The teenager, trapped in the bathroom during the mayhem, fell victim to gunfire through the door.

In a post-Miranda interview, Banks admitted to pursuing a romantic relationship with the teenager and expressed feeling betrayed upon discovering plans to leave with another individual. His confession extended to reloading his weapon and firing shots at an officer in the front yard.

Prosecutors underscored the alarming fact that Banks, a convicted felon with prior convictions in 2007 and 2010 for aggravated battery and simple battery, had acquired the firearm a year before from a sporting goods website. This aspect raises serious concerns about the accessibility of weapons to individuals with a history of violent offenses.

[SOURCE]