THE TRUE STORY OF GEORGE EMIL BANKS

Robert Brunson, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, friend and former co-worker of George Banks, heard reports on the news of the standoff on Monroe Street and felt compelled to help.� The unemployed and divorced 36-year-old man quickly drove to the scene, and asked the permission of Wilkes-Barre Chief of Police John Swim to talk with Banks, I feel I can talk to him and would like a chance to try, Brunson told Swim.� With few options left on the table, Swim agreed.� Brunson, escorted to a point only a few yards from the home, called out to Banks:

Brunson: George, can I talk to you before you die?� If you came here to die, so be it.� But let me talk to you before you do it.

Banks: Its a good day to die!
Brunson: No, there are people that care.� I cared enough to come down here to talk to you.
Banks: No, man, they are using you.
Brunson: No, I want to be here.� If you fire one shot, the police will shoot you, just like you or I would do if we were in the (prison) tower.� Take the first step, man.� Ill be there to walk every step with you.
Banks: I have problems I cant deal with. I want to be treated with dignity.
Brunson: George, listen man.� Everybody needs a crutch sometimes.� Ill be yours.� Ill put my body between you and these men with guns.� But you have to trust the man (police).

The arrest of George Banks
(FilePhoto/Citizens Voice, Wilkes-
Barre, PA.)

Following the conversation with Brunson, Banks remained silent, contemplating his situation.� Finally, four hours after the standoff began, at 11:17 a.m., Banks agreed to come out.� He smashed out a rear window in the house and asked that the officers on the scene hold their fire.� He was then instructed to hand his weapon to Patrolman Donald Smith through the broken window and surrender himself out the front door of the home into the custody of police.� Banks complied.

During an initial search of the home, investigators discovered three 30-round clips and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.� Also noted was that Banks had barricaded all of the windows with furniture and large appliances, and had a mirror set up in order to watch the front and rear doors from a second floor vantage point.

This was a siege like no other in local history.� The city of Wilkes-Barre was left in a state of shock following the bloody massacre.� Many residents could not understand why Banks, an outwardly stable man, decided to systematically kill 13 innocent human beings for no apparent reason.

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