A Florida mother set up her own sting operation at Popeyes fast food restaurant to confront the man who allegedly sexted her 13-year-old daughter. The confrontation ended with the suspect being shot multiple times.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Chief of Detectives Alan Parker said at a news conference. press conference On Monday, it was announced that 18-year-old Celie Rodriques Banks “had an inappropriate text message relationship with a 13-year-old female.”
“Once the officer arrived at the corner of the store, he observed the suspect pull a handgun from his waistband.”
The girl's mother reportedly noticed the unauthorized communication. She then took her daughter's cell phone and sent text messages to the suspect pretending to be her underage daughter.
The mother then set up a meeting with the 18-year-old at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in Jacksonville around 7 a.m. Sunday morning.
Banks arrived at the fast food restaurant believing he was meeting the girl, but was actually greeted by a mother, her daughter and her 11-year-old son.
The suspect brandished a gun and told his mother, “When you hear the gunshots tonight, you'll know what's going on,” police said.
The unnamed mother allegedly forced her children into Popeyes, and the suspect walked to the back of the fast food restaurant, where the mother called authorities.
Police said the suspect had ample time to leave the scene, but remained outside the restaurant.
The officer confronted Mr. Banks and gave the suspect “multiple verbal commands” to “turn around and show his hands.”
However, the suspect ignored commands and fled.
“When officers arrived at the corner of the store, they observed the suspect pull a handgun from his waistband,” said Parker of the sheriff's office.
Officers reportedly instructed Banks to drop the weapon, but the suspect refused.
As a result, the officer, a seven-year veteran, shot the suspect multiple times.
“The suspect continued to flee and dropped the gun near a nearby store,” Parker said.
Banks was able to flee the pursuing officers, but other officers established a perimeter.
With the assistance of a K-9 unit, the suspect was apprehended without incident inside the drainage tunnel.
Parker said the suspect was shot in the hand, torso and possibly “the leg.” He received medical assistance at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his wounds.
Police recovered the gun, but said it does not appear to have been fired during the incident.
According to prison records Banks was charged by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, two counts of lewd and lascivious acts by a felon over 18 years of age and victim under 16 years of age, and unlawful use of a weapon. Use communication devices and use computers to lure/recruit/seduce children and then travel to meet them.
Bond was set at $700,018.
Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said He understood the mother's concerns, but said parents should allow law enforcement to handle situations like this.
“We want to deal with every situation, but this is a mother who is worried about her daughter. “So, I understand, I understand,” Waters said at a press conference. “But most of the time, in those situations, just call us and let us come out and deal with the situation. So it's not like, 'It's not going to play out like this.' ”
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