Berwyn man charged with shooting parents to death in Chicago apartment: prosecutors
CHICAGO - A Berwyn man on bond in a federal robbery case is accused of killing his parents last weekend in a senior home in the Uptown neighborhood, and then returning to the unit with police for a well-being check, Cook County prosecutors said Thursday.
Ocie Banks Jr., 33, was accused of fatally shooting his 61-year-old mother, Sheila Banks, and his father, Ocie Banks Sr., 79, in a third-floor apartment bedroom at the Wilson Yard senior home at 1032 W. Montrose Avenue on Saturday, Chicago police and prosecutors said.
Ocie Banks Sr. was found lying face down on the bed with a gunshot wound to the forehead and back and Sheila Banks had a gunshot wound to her right temple , Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said in court.
Prosecutors offered no motive for Banks Jr. to kill his parents, but Murphy said Banks Jr. had a history of domestic violence against his father, causing Sheila to kick him out of their home. Banks Sr. then decided to move out and live with his son in a Berwyn apartment, which was their residence at the time of the shooting.
Murphy said Banks Sr. and Sheila were separated but still on good terms, prosecutors said.
Ocie Banks Jr. | Chicago police
Court records show Shiela took out an emergency order of protection against her son in 2014 and it was terminated in 2016.
Murphy said Banks Jr. and his father went to Sheila's apartment around 8 p.m. on Friday to play cards. Surveillance video captured father and son enter Sheila's apartment where she and two others were inside.
Sheila was seen on surveillance video walking her two guests to the elevator around 3:06 a.m. before returning to her apartment, Murphy said.
Three hours later, surveillance video showed Banks Jr. leave the apartment, appearing to lock the unit’s door behind him, and then returned to his residence in Berwyn, officials said.
No one else entered the apartment until police arrived Sunday night to conduct a well-being check accompanied by Banks Jr., Murphy said.
Family members asked Berwyn police to conduct a well-being check Saturday at the father and son’s Berwyn apartment, and when Banks Sr. was not located, Chicago police were called to conduct a well-being check at Sheila’s apartment, Murphy said.
Police did not find a weapon or fired shell casings in the apartment, prosecutors said.
Banks Jr. was taken into custody Tuesday after agreeing to meet with Area 3 detectives, according to his arrest report. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
There were no signs of forced entry to the unit, the windows were locked and nothing appears have been taken, Murphy said. No shell casings or gun was discovered after the apartment was searched.
Banks Jr. has a previous conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was facing federal charges after allegedly robbing cellphone stores in Berwyn and Cicero on Jan. 15 last year, according to court records. Banks Jr. has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
Banks Jr. previously worked as an rideshare driver and had a scheduled interview for a job with suburban transit provider PACE, his assistant public defender said. He has previously been diagnosed with "mental illness," his attorney said, but was not currently taking any medication.
Judge Maryam Ahmad ordered Banks Jr. held without bail on two counts of first-degree murder. He was expected back in court May 3.