Two men wanted in the shooting death of a woman which in November was reported as a suicide are in custody after their capture this afternoon at a residence near Georgia Avenue and East Tenth Street.
Roanoke Rapids police Chief Shane Guyant said Demonte Saquan Johnson and Patrick Lequan Banks were located by the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, patrol officers and the Halifax County Drug and Gang Task Force.
They were jailed without the opportunity for bond and await a first district court appearance in Halifax Tuesday.
In the gallery from left: Banks and Johnson
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Johnson, the 30-year-old boyfriend of Brittany Smith, who died on November 26, is charged with second-degree murder while Banks, 27, is charged with felony obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact.
The men were captured around noon and were admitted to the Halifax County Detention Center around 3:30 p.m.
Guyant said informants helped investigators locate the men who had been dodging law enforcement since warrants were taken out for their arrests.
Guyant has previously said both men at the time of Smith’s death said her death from a single gunshot wound was suicide.
Both Johnson and Banks were at her residence at the time of her death.
During the crime scene examination, several critical pieces of evidence related to the death of Smith were recovered.
A medical examiner’s examination supported the conclusion that Smith’s death was not a suicide.
After consulting with the district’s attorney’s office, the decision was made to issue the second-degree murder warrant for Johnson and due to obstructing statements and acts of concealment, warrants were issued for Banks.
"I am so proud of the tenacity and sticktoitiveness of our detectives,” Guyant said, “Especially the strong efforts by Detective N. Bankert. He was the lead investigator and has compiled a solid case on these two defendants.”
He said he was pleased with the work of the task force and patrol officers.
“We hope this gives Brittany Smith's family and friends some solace. Today is the beginning of justice for Brittany.”
