Arrest Announced In 2020 Shooting Death Of Tuscaloosa Teen

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit on Friday announced an arrest in the 2020 shooting death of a Tuscaloosa teenager.

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Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the multi-agency unit, said on Aug. 12, 2020, a 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.

He later died from his injuries.

Kennedy said the shooting was found to have occurred at a residence with multiple witnesses, with some who were uncooperative or unable to be identified at that time.

"Without a clear course of events leading to the shooting, no charges were able to be brought," he said. "VCU investigators have continued to work on this case, and late last year were able to establish the probable course of events during the shooting."

Kennedy went on to say that the case in its entirety was presented to a grand jury, which indicted 22-year-old Antonie Dewayne Bankhead, Jr. for manslaughter.

Bankhead was arrested late Thursday and booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on $20,000 bond.

"No homicide investigation conducted by the Violent Crimes Unit is ever closed unless the perpetrator has been identified and/or charged," Kennedy said. "The investigators who continued to work on this case for that last four years are to be commended."

Kennedy said no identifying information will be released concerning the juvenile victim.

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