COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Two men have been charged with murdering 25-year-old Eric Banks in 2016.
Banks was walking in the first block of East 57th Street about 2 p.m. Sep. 21, 2016, when gunman Deshawn Garrett, 21, jumped out of a tan Buick and opened fire — fatally striking Banks in his ribs, forearm, back, leg and the back of his head, prosecutors said.
Deonte Bowdry, 28, was driving the Buick, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini, who spoke during bond hearings Thursday and Friday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave.
Garrett and Bowdry were denied bail on first-degree-murder charges.
According to prosecutors, Banks was walking with a witness when Garrett opened fire Sep. 21. The witness was able to escape, Santini said, but Banks was shot immediately and fell to the ground.
Garrett is accused of then standing over Banks and continuing to shoot him at close range. Police found 11 shell casings on the scene.
After the shooting, Garrett got back into the Buick and Bowdry sped away, Santini said. Both the shooting and the Buick's license-plate number were captured on surveillance footage.
Banks was rushed in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
During their investigation, police learned the Buick belonged to Bowdry, who took it to a shop to have it painted a different color, Santini said. Witnesses were able to identify Garrett as the shooter.
It is not clear why there was a delay in filing charges.
Garrett, of the 1400 block of East 66th Place, has pending cases for armed robbery, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated unlawful restraint and unlawful vehicular invasion.
Bowdry, of the 4300 block of South Greenwood Avenue, has a pending case for manufacturing and delivering heroin. He was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless conduct.
