Teen Pleads Innocent To Murder Charges

A teenager accused of fatally shooting one man and wounding another at a party in Lakewood last week has pleaded innocent in Pierce County Superior Court to charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.

Shamika J. Banks, 18, was ordered held Thursday in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Two 17-year-old boys who police say also fired guns at the party also face charges.

Banks is accused of killing Eric Johnson, 20, during a dispute between rival gang members. She is also accused of shooting 18-year-old Elisha Marcus in the neck. He survived.

Prosecutors allege the dispute involving three rival gangs that led to Johnson’s death nearly ended peacefully.

There was no friction early in the party, but that changed when a group affiliated with a gang prosecutors say Banks is a member of attempted to “crash” by not paying an attendance fee.

Banks and the 17-year-olds confronted Johnson, Marcus and others, prosecutors say.

They were starting to shake hands to end the dispute amicably when Banks balked and said she would not shake hands with a member of a rival gang, and used a derogatory term for that gang, witnesses told police.

A shootout ensued.

Banks, whose police record includes multiple assaults, was arrested Wednesday.