A Florida father is accused of going on a shooting spree that killed his daughter, mother, and others after his family refused to allow him to have a romantic relationship with his daughter.
According to court documents obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, 42-year-old Michael Banks claimed to police that he wrote a letter to his 17-year-old daughter “insisting that she enter into a relationship with him and not date anyone else.”
Prior to Banks’ alleged shooting spree on Jan. 17, his mother and a friend were in the family home discussing putting him out after discovering he was “pursuing a romantic relationship with his daughter,” according to the documents.
According to prosecutors, when Banks overheard these chats, he felt “betrayed and upset,” so he took out his pistol and brought it into the kitchen. He shot his 60-year-old mother and her friend, killing the latter, according to the Times.
Banks did not stop there. He allegedly fired another shot that grazed his mother’s head before pursuing his daughter, who was in the shower. Bank’s daughter told police that she heard gunfire and tried to force the door shut, but Banks shot through “at approximately head level.”
After the 17-year-old fled the house, Bank’s mother contacted 911. According to the Times, when police arrived, they found Banks’ mother and daughter outside the residence with gunshot wounds.
Banks allegedly fired at cops with the loaded handgun, and they returned fire, but no shots wounded the defendant, according to Tampa Police. No one was hurt, and Banks surrendered before being taken into jail.
The father was arrested on five counts: one count of first-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, one count of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon.
He was brought to the Hillsborough County Jail and is being held without bond.