MURDER USA PG Police Chief cites gang warfare in slaying of innocent victim Allyssa Banks; 3 Amigos charged with homicide

MURDER USA PG Police Chief cites gang warfare in slaying of innocent victim Allyssa Banks; 3 Amigos charged with homicide

“My Beautiful Angel” Allyssa Deneane Banks departed this earth on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, to a senseless, random act of violence.

LARGO, MD. — Prince George’s County Police report that three suspects are in custody and charged with the 2016 fatal shooting of Allyssa Banks. They are 20-year-old Thomas Demetrius Jenkins of the 6800 block of Riverdale Road in Riverdale, 23-year-old Daniel Thomas Butler of the 9100 block of Cherry Lane in Laurel and 21-year-old Josue Vasques of 8100 Rycroft Avenue in New Carrollton. PGPD officers arrested Jenkins and Butler this week. A grand jury indicted Vasques on Tuesday. He was already in custody on other criminal charges.

Vasques was in jail in 2017 and on June 17, 2017, States Attorney Alsobrooks dropped the serious criminal charges against him and let him free back onto the streets of Prince Georges County. 

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  On Jan. 27, 2018, Josue Dave Vasques was charged with multiple counts of reckless endangerment, theft and malicious property destruction by PG County Police in PG County District Court.

• On June 10, 2017, Vasques was charged in PG County District Court with multiple charges of armed robbery, assault, theft and use of a firearm in a violent crime. All of the charges were dropped by Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks on Aug. 15, 2017.

On October 19th, 2016, at 1:45 am, officers were called to the 10200 block of Prince Place for a shooting. They discovered 18-year-old Banks suffering from gunshot wounds. She died at the hospital. A second victim was also shot. He survived his injuries.

Prince George’s County Police Department Homicide Unit detectives aggressively investigated this case. Through various investigative techniques, detectives identified the suspects who were ultimately charged this week.  

Police: “It appears they were randomly targeted.”

The motive is still under investigation, but it is believed that there was an ongoing feud between two local neighborhoods crews. Banks and the surviving shooting victim were innocent and had no involvement in the feud. It appears they were randomly targeted.

“These are completely innocent victims. There was nothing in their conduct, in their behavior, in the relationships that would connect them with the perpetrators of this murder. That speaks to the relentless drive of these investigators to find the perpetrator when you essentially have nothing to start with,” said Chief Hank Stawinski.

Each suspect is charged with first-degree murder and related charges. They are in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

Obituary of Allyssa Banks

“My Beautiful Angel” Allyssa Deneane Banks departed this earth on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, to a senseless, random act of violence. She was 18 years of age. She was born on February 10, 1998, to mother Lydia Banks of Largo, Md. and Ronald Wilkes, of Thomasville, N.C. She was born at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Allyssa was an only child.Allyssa gave her life to Christ and was baptized on May 21, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Glen Arden, MD. She graduated from Largo High School, class of 2016, at the top 5% of her class. Allyssa was a member of the National High School Scholars, President of the Student Government Association. She attended the University of Md., Upward Bound Program for three (3) years. She was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers Program, The Silver Spirit Majorette Squad, a Largo High School choir member and a tennis athlete. Allyssa was a student at Prince George Community College, Largo, Md., where she was studying to become a Paramedic.Her maternal grandmothers are Josephine H. Banks of Madison, Va., and Lillian Williams of Thomasville, N.C., both predeceased. Allyssa is survived by brothers, Tremaine Wilkes and Daris Wilkes of Thomasville, N.C.; aunts, Mary Amzat of Orange, Va., Karen Banks of Louisa, Va., Dawn Banks of Madison, Va., and Stacey and Sparkle Thomas of Redding, Pa.; uncles, Harold Banks of Madison, Va. and Garret Banks of Nelson County, Va.; Anita Stewart, Mary Wilkes, and Shanta of Thomasville, N.C.; and cousins, Adreanna D. Banks, Ayana D. Banks, Jayce and J’Ylen Banks, Ciara Banks, Christopher Ryan Banks, Kenneth Banks, Kevin Lewis, and Tammy Brown, Desmond Wilkes and Roy Norris, Jr. of Thomasville, N.C. She is also survived by step-father, David Burns II; step-brother, David Burns IV; by a host of aunts and cousins, and the Miles, Washington, Alexander, and Braxton family.The funeral was held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Md. on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, viewing at 9:30 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. The address to the church is 3600 Bright Seat Rd, Landover, MD 20785.On November 3, 2016, the family has reserved a private service at Preddy’s Funeral Home, 250 West Main Street in Orange, VA22960. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery. From Mom to my Beautiful butterfly hide my tears when I say your name. But the pain in my heart is still the same. Although I smile and seem carefree.There is no one who misses you more than me!