A College of DuPage student arrested in last month’s fatal melee on Benedictine University’s Lisle campus had his bail reduced Monday to $20,000 from $100,000 after he pledged to cooperate with prosecutors.
Jason Banks, 20, of Gurnee has been in the DuPage County Jail since being arrested Jan. 22 for allegedly defacing the identification marks on a firearm.
Banks was in an apartment with a group of friends and football players on Jan. 20 when another group broke into the apartment and a fight began. It ended with the fatal shooting of Norman Miller, who broke down the door as his group entered the apartment.
Banks didn’t shoot Miller, but a police investigation uncovered a .25-caliber handgun, which wasn’t involved in the incident, in Banks’ possession with its identifying marks removed.
DuPage Judge Kathryn Creswell reduced the bond after Banks’ attorney, James Schwarzbach, said Banks has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and “testify for the state against others in custody in this case.”
Banks still was in jail Monday evening as his family attempted to collect the 10 percent, or $2,000 cash, needed for his release.
Creswell ordered Banks to remain under house arrest at his family’s home in Gurnee when he is released, except to return to COD to attend classes and to travel to work if he finds a job.
She also ordered Banks to avoid contact with nine people who were present during the fight.
Assistant State’s Atty. David Bayer told Creswell that the Jan. 20 fight was a continuation of a Jan. 17 fight between the two groups.
Miller was fatally shot with a rifle by Brian Hall, also a student. DuPage County State’s Atty. Joseph Birkett said Hall was defending his home and wasn’t charged in the death, although he was charged with not having the required state firearm owner’s identification.
Michael Keeton, 19, of Lisle was charged with home invasion; and Anthony Woods, 19, also of Lisle, was charged with obstruction of justice.
The incident took place in Founders’ Woods, a privately operated apartment complex on the campus.
