houston, texas — A Dallas man was sentenced late Friday to 63 years in prison for fatally shooting a father of two at a west Houston bowling alley in 2022, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. .
Dionate Desmond Banks, 31, of Dallas, was killed by Gregory Shihed, 24, a father of two daughters, after a fight between two groups at a bowling alley in Bunker Hill, just south of the Katy Freeway. was convicted of murdering. , August 14, 2022.
“The victim's family lost a loved one and the two girls lost their father. The right outcome of this case is for the perpetrator to spend decades in prison,” Ogg said.
The incident began when two groups of women confronted each other, leading to a small fight. Suhed, who was in a separate group from Banks, was seen on surveillance footage trying to de-escalate the situation and convince him to leave.
However, when the woman struck her aunt, Shihed intervened and was shot in the back by Banks, the bullet piercing his heart. When Shihead collapsed, Banks shot him in the head. Banks and others fled the scene, and Houston police subsequently investigated the murder.
Banks later claimed on social media that the killing was in self-defense and that he was the victim. He also researched Texas criminal law regarding self-defense online.
Once identified as the shooter and taken in for questioning, Banks made up details of the incident, not knowing it was being videotaped.
Assistant District Attorneys Keegan Childers and Billy Morian prosecuted Banks during a six-day trial. Morian said 63 years in prison was appropriate based on a formula that took into account the fact that Suhed likely lived to be 77 years old and the additional years for Banks' lack of remorse and attempt to evade responsibility. Stated.
Under Texas law, Banks will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 30 years of his sentence.
