Woman kills son, herself
Police say funeral clothes laid out on bed
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ADDIS — A 34-year-old woman shot and killed her 7-year-old son, then herself Thursday evening, Police Chief Ricky Anderson said.
He said the murder-suicide inside the family home at 7511 Bradley Court appeared to have been carefully planned, with the funeral clothes for mother and son laid out on a bed.
Lavinia Banks shot young Dareyonne Banks in his bedroom, then dragged his body to a bathroom tub and shot him again, Anderson said. She then shot herself in the head.
Dareyonne was shot at five times and struck at close range at least three times, Anderson said.
The police chief said Lavinia Banks reloaded the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver at least once.
The incident happened between 5:20 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., he said.
About 15 minutes later, Don Banks Jr., the husband and father, returned to the home from work, Anderson said.
Banks ran out of the house and called police from a neighbor’s home, Anderson said. Police ruled out Banks as a suspect.
Anderson said the motive likely involved a dispute between the parents over the husband’s older child.
He also said police have been called to the house two months earlier involving a domestic dispute over the older child.
Anderson said a neighbor told him that shortly before Lavinia Banks shot herself, a little boy in the community had come to the home to ask her if he could play with Dareyonne and she told him her son was at basketball practice.
While police were investigating the murder-suicide, Lavinia Banks’ brother began fighting with Don Banks Jr. at the scene, Anderson said.
Police subdued the brother with a shot from a Taser. Anderson did not release the brother’s name, but said police booked the brother on disturbing the peace by fighting, resisting an officer, damage to property.
He said the murder-suicide inside the family home at 7511 Bradley Court appeared to have been carefully planned, with the funeral clothes for mother and son laid out on a bed.
Lavinia Banks shot young Dareyonne Banks in his bedroom, then dragged his body to a bathroom tub and shot him again, Anderson said. She then shot herself in the head.
Dareyonne was shot at five times and struck at close range at least three times, Anderson said.
The police chief said Lavinia Banks reloaded the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver at least once.
The incident happened between 5:20 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., he said.
About 15 minutes later, Don Banks Jr., the husband and father, returned to the home from work, Anderson said.
Banks ran out of the house and called police from a neighbor’s home, Anderson said. Police ruled out Banks as a suspect.
Anderson said the motive likely involved a dispute between the parents over the husband’s older child.
He also said police have been called to the house two months earlier involving a domestic dispute over the older child.
Anderson said a neighbor told him that shortly before Lavinia Banks shot herself, a little boy in the community had come to the home to ask her if he could play with Dareyonne and she told him her son was at basketball practice.
While police were investigating the murder-suicide, Lavinia Banks’ brother began fighting with Don Banks Jr. at the scene, Anderson said.
Police subdued the brother with a shot from a Taser. Anderson did not release the brother’s name, but said police booked the brother on disturbing the peace by fighting, resisting an officer, damage to property.
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