Published on Jan 25, 2018 updated 2:38 pm
Waite High school basketball standout Carl Banks, Jr., was arrested at school Thursday morning on a charge of complicity to murder.
Mr. Banks, 18, previously was charged only with aggravated robbery in Lucas County Juvenile Court for his alleged role in the Nov. 18 shooting death of Jerry McNeal, 31.
Lori Olender, chief of the juvenile division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, said the ongoing investigation into the homicide and robbery turned up new evidence that warranted the additional charge against Mr. Banks, who was 17 at the time.
Also Thursday, two co-defendants in the case made their first appearance in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
James Moore, 19, of the 900 block of Berry Street, and Eric Jones, Jr., 25, of the 2300 block of Warren Street each are charged with aggravated murder, murder, and aggravated robbery for the incident.
Judge Dean Mandros set bond for each of them at $1.5 million and ordered that they have no contact with each other or with Mr. Banks.
Michael Bahner, an assistant county prosecutor, told the court that Mr. Banks had been arrested at school Thursday morning and was to be arraigned Friday in Juvenile Court. He is being held in the Juvenile Detention Center.
Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division of the prosecutor's office, said prosecutors intend to have Mr. Banks certified to stand trial as an adult in the case.
Investigators say the three men planned to rob Mr. McNeal of cash when he emerged from a house at 1817 Bigelow St. that was known to be a gambling establishment. When Mr. McNeal came out of the house, he was shot to death.
A pretrial hearing for Mr. Moore was set for Feb. 6, while Judge Mandros continued Mr. Jones' arraignment until Feb. 2 so that his attorney can be present.