NFL Star Thanks Jesus After Successful Double Homicide
The Onion
February 9, 2000 | Issue 36·04
CHARLESTON, SC-Washington Redskins defensive end D'Aundré Banks gave
"all thanks and praise to my personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Monday for giving him the strength he needed to fatally stab bouncer
Isaac Edmonds and ex-girlfriend Pamela Hamilton outside a Charleston
nightclub early Sunday morning.
"All glory to Jesus," the 25-year-old Banks, who attended the
University of South Carolina, told reporters from his cell in the
Charleston County Jail. "He is with me in this dark hour, as He was in
our devastating 14-13 playoff loss to the Buccaneers. His love will see
me through this."
According to police reports, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a visibly
intoxicated Banks became involved in an altercation with Edmonds
regarding who would accompany Hamilton home. When Edmonds attempted to
restrain Banks, the 288-pound devout Christian produced a knife and
stabbed Edmonds and Hamilton repeatedly. He then fled to the home of
girlfriend and Hooters waitress Lisa Nolan in nearby Summerville, where
police arrested him several hours later.
"First off, I'd like to say 'great job' to Isaac and Pamela, who put up
a heck of a fight and have nothing to be ashamed of," Banks said. "They
were terrific opponents, and it's too bad somebody had to lose a life.
But the Lord Jesus Christ was truly with me Saturday night. He guided
my hand when I was able to make that big hit on Isaac, and I really
felt His presence when I stepped up and made that great slashing cut to
bring Pamela down from behind."
Added Banks: "Jesus really let me take this homicide to the next level.
Thank you, Jesus!"
Banks, who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, has
been a devout born-again Christian ever since his hot-tub baptism at
the hands of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and ordained minister
Irving Fryar during Pro Bowl week in 1997.
"I was a mess before Jesus took my hand," Banks said. "At South
Carolina, I'd show up late to practice, stay out late running around
with the wrong crowd, all kinds of bad things. I was about to squander
the precious gift of football God blessed me with. But through His
grace, I was drafted in the fourth round and sent to the NFL to meet
Rev. Fryar, who showed me that Jesus wanted me to glorify Him and play
on His team."
Continued Banks: "D'Aundré Banks' life would be nothing without
Christ's faith. Without His peace and love, D'Aundré Banks never would
have gotten his time in the 40 down to 4.6 for the 1995 NFL scouting
combines, and he never would have had the strength to turn a big guy
like Isaac Edmonds around with just one arm and stab him."
Jeff Rosenzweig, Banks' Miami-based agent and manager, said his client
has been unfairly represented by the media in its coverage of the
double homicide.
"All the papers are branding D'Aundré a murderer, as if that's all
there is to him," Rosenzweig said. "But in their mad rush to demonize
D'Aundré, they neglect to mention his deep dedication to the D'Aundré
Banks Helps Kids Tackle Drugs For A Loss Foundation and the Big 98
Safety In The End Zone Safe House For Women. Or, for that matter, that
he acknowledges the workings of Christ in his everyday life. No, you
don't see any of those things mentioned in the articles about him. It's
all 'homicide this' and 'seven-inch stab wound that.'"
Banks, whose preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 in Charleston
County Court, said his fate is in Christ's hands.
"I don't know what will happen to me. That's up to the Lord," Banks
said. "The Bible tells us that nothing is done on this Earth but that
is done through God. No multimillion-dollar contract extension, no
game-saving interception, no acquittal on both counts of first-degree
murder happens without Him."