Arizona Graduation Party Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 4 Wounded

MESA, Ariz. — Two people were killed and six others _ two of them children _ were wounded in a shooting at a high school graduation party, police said Sunday.

Brent Matthew Banks, 37, was arrested after a four-hour standoff with police at a house in Mesa, east of Phoenix, Mesa Police Sgt. Ed Wessing said.

Preliminary information indicated that Banks was an invited guest at the party who got into a physical fight with his ex-wife late Saturday, Wessing said.

He allegedly went to his vehicle, got a gun, returned to the party and opened fire, killing his 38-year-old ex-wife and a 32-year-old man, Wessing said.

He said six others suffered minor injuries. They included a 10-year-old boy who was grazed on the head and an 8-year-old boy injured by bullet fragments.

Wessing said that when police arrived patrol cars were hit by gunfire and one officer was shot in the left arm. The officer's injuries weren't life-threatening and no other officers were hit.

Banks has not yet retained an attorney.

Comments

[motoGpifupleez]

Ah yes. America's (at least) weekly "loser with a gun" story.

[lletaa]

Wait, drunk loser with a gun is probably more accurate.

[jsgaetano]

They should give free NRA memberships to all gun criminals.

[goosegoose]

NRA members ARE gun criminals..get it?

[patrickmcdougal]

So after reading a lot of the post written already I can assume that the majority here are for the legalization of marijuana. That if you ban guns (marijuana) then only the bad guys will have guns (marijuana). Hmmm , Haven't heard the NRA mention that before.

[vagabondvet]

Most times, the bad guys with marijuana also have guns they aren't legally supposed to have.

[CheshireCat2]

Especially, the ones with felonies.

[Benton]

Except that most people are not for banning guns. I think they are for greater regulation of guns just as most people are for the regulation of marijuana as opposed to the outright prohibition of either.

[JulieSA]

I think the NRA has mentioned the alcohol prohibition of the 20's that worked so well.

[TJCole]

More responsible gun ownership American style...!

Wait till the murderers, kidnappings, accidental shootings and rapes begin in the National Parks this Summer..?

Be careful out there it's open season on human beings here 24/7 365...!

Heck of a job you're doin there Holdie...!

[CheshireCat2]

You've obviously never hiked where there are mountain cats and black bears.

[TJCole]

I have them in my back yard here every year, bears especially...you don't need to conceal a weapon so a black bear doesn't know you've got it...!

What nation of cowards we've become...

I did some hiking where they were Viet Cong in the woods and tigers, does that count..?

[jsgaetano]

And neither have 99.999% of gun owners.

[Ryoki]

Well I have. Big cats,bears (brown and black), rattlesnakes, moose,deer, coyote,wolfs. I've hiked and camped with them all. Never carried a gun, no need. But I've known people who always carried gun in to the parks to "protect themselfs from animals". A few had tales of midnight wonderings to fend off the ( fill in feared critter here) only to find a racoon or skunk.
The major thing to fear in the park is a jerk who thinks he's Daniel Boone and is just iching to shoot something. There will be very few campers saved from bear attack by their 9mm., but a bloodbath of happy campers killing the wildlife and blowing each others brains out.
Now I have to get back to the new invention I'm designing...Kevlar sleeping bags.

[goosegoose]

BS....black bears....? any grandma can chase off a black bear with a pot and big spoon..

same for big cats....you city gun nuts are crazy.

you think guns will solve your problems..you just can't see it..

GUNS ARE THE PROBLEM..

"none so blind as those that will not see"

[Prakosh]

I hope you run into a bear someday with a handgun. You won't be smiling after that encounter, I guarantee it!!!

[gcallaghan]

In the hands of a drunk, a gun is just as dangerous as an automobile. How about criminalizing being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while possessing firearms? Use the existing law framework for increasing penalties for subsequent offenses: probation for first offenses leading up to forfeiture of the right to own a gun, like what happens to convicted felons, for habitual offenders.

[vagabondvet]

Not necessary. There is already a difference between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

[gcallaghan]

I'm talking about mere possession - regardless if the weapon is used to commit a crime

[eleutheros]

The shooter(s) must have been part of Arizona's "well- regulated militia" who simply were mistaken while "bearing their arms." Death is simply part of life. Get over it.

[blastocyst]

Sudden death.
Exquisitely random.
Like Sheriff Billy in "Unforgiven" : "I was building a house!"

Just up and gone.
Snap.

[TheLearnedEnglishDog]

If all the partygoers had been armed responsible conservative right wing gun owners this would never have happened. Just kidding. I blame education. If no one had a graduation to celebtrate, this could have been avoided

[Slackjaw1]

Even though I am a gun owner, I still feel that there has to be measures taken to curb senseless deaths by armed madmen. What that would involve? I am not sure, maybe it is just a part of life and death that society will have to accept. No one knows the heart ache of a loved one being murdered until it happens to them, and with that comes the change that may be needed. So, my heart goes out to the victims and their families of gun violence.

[Pupadup4oBama]

unfortunately, as long as people consider it a right to own guns, this will probably never go away. I'm not saying that responsible people, such as yourself shouldn't own one if they want....but until we have sensible laws and background checks - this will not go away....and I don't believe that we, as a society, should live in fear of whether or not a crazy man is going to come in to our home during a happy celebration and kill our family and friends.

[vagabondvet]

The whole point of the Second Amendment is to allow ourselves to defend against the government, yet you want people to get permission from the government to have guns?

[plages]

What a spoiled nation. Don't like what some one said, or looked at you funny, or didn't get out of your way on the public streets, just waste the person(s)! Just think about the police and what they're really up against . . . crazed fools who don't want to control themselves, and that extends to the so called leadership of this country. So why do we keep on electing these dregs who think only about their clubs and positions with all of the health care and other great perks that they vote in for themselves!

GREAT GAS MILAGE, JUST AS LONG AS YOU CAN CARRY A WEAPON!! FOOLS ALL!

[Lee Andrew]

SIDEBAR:

MESA, ARIZONA = WARSILLA, ALSAKA The picturesque Mormon conclave is Arizona biggest meth factory and California's largest supplier.

Just saying....

[PavePusher]

Just sayin' what? Your grammer is so bad I can't understand you....

[Lee Andrew]

It has been perhaps 8 years since I moved to Europe_ learned French, Italian, Spanish and some Czech. Sometimes I do make mistakes in my comments because I am thinking in several LANGUAGES. I apologize, however after re-reading the above post its meaning is simplistic.

[goosegoose]

great spelling!

[Lee Andrew]

In Arizona "weapons" are supposed to to be by law carried openly -strapped on_ Concealed weapons are taboo.

Imagine riding in your auto along any city street and next to you is a guy on a motorcycle packing a .357 (Its common place) sort of discourages cutting into his lane abruptly.

I lived in Arizona for twenty years - love the state and the people - and its WESTERN mentality ( I am native southern boy.)

That being stated as a former TV news member in the great state you-d be surprised as to discover the number one cause of death. (It's drowning)

As someone who has reported on many, in fact too many, deaths by senseless violence _ I am a proud GLOCK owner_ we don't need additional gun laws, just some restrictions starting with assault weapons and amour piercing ammunition(my police brothers would thank leaders to close that legal loop-hole.)

I vehemently support gun owners rights to bear arms and I also believe a middle ground is possible to control and eliminate illegal armaments from the thugs and bad guys.

[CheshireCat2]

My son and daughter-in-law both have their concealed weapons permits.

They both live in AZ.

I support your summation as well.

[Lee Andrew]

Thanks. Sorry if my sentiment was not clearer _ Yes, conceal weapons permits are issued to some_rarely and difficult to obtain. I was just trying to emphasis that in Arizona anyone can carry a weapon openly without problems_very liberal gun laws. in fact I like it that way _ everything in the open.

[Gmoney1]

you people want to own guns to shot at something and with the use of drugs and alcohol that the majority of you consume - those that have no use for those dangerous things will more than likely become your SOMETHING - gun ownership should be banned PERIOD -

[cycle3man]

What a waste!

[simplify]

How's that 2nd amendmebt working out for y'all?

[PavePusher]

Qiute well, thank you. How's the overall crime rate where you live?

[CheshireCat2]

Cars ki-ll people every year. They should be outlawed.

[editor]

Its a mathematical certainty; that with billions of humans; there will at times be disputes. Add lethal weapons to the equation; and instead of words being exchanged; lives are ruined. But god forbid; don't inconvenience an NRA member.... Humans have failed the gun test. We can't live peacefully with them. But since spineless democrats won't yet take on the NRA; even in the Obama era; we will have to wait for GPS chips in guns. The solution will never be political; (don't hold your breath) it will be technological.

[burt2009]

Typical lib, always blame someone or something other than the person committing the crime.

[dkuz09]

Oh we can blame the guy ALL we want, but case is this: had he not had the gun, those people would probably be alive--that ten year old boy probably would not have been injured....just saying.

[TheLearnedEnglishDog]

Typical wingnut. Blame the victims for being in the way of the bullets. They should have known that theey had an unstable individual in their midst, eh winger?

[Pupadup4oBama]

ha ha....crazy repuglican projection.

[kareemachan]

GPS - I like it. Now let's hear the arguments AGAINST this technology from the NRA crowd....

[vagabondvet]

The point of the Second Amendment is for the people to protect themselves from the Government. Why should the government know where all the guns are?

[MGhamma]

Totally ban guns and the black market in guns will explode. "When guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns".

[goosegoose]

so original!..so 1954!

[AlteSoldier]

That is what is wrong with the United States. Everyone at the party should have had his or her hand gun ready and strapped on. That way when a problem occurs one can come out firing. May the best person be left standing.

[shimmyshammy]

"Cocktail pistols" could become a new fashion accessory.

[Pupadup4oBama]

you can get them in all kinds of colors and loaded with bling - how cute

[bog]

yes, a thinning of the american herd. i like it. how do we make this happen?

[filo]

Yeah, that's JUST what the cops want to see when they pull up. Everyone waving guns around.