On Monday, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced that 20-year-old Donald Bannister has pleaded guilty to one count of Voluntary Manslaughter, two counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and other charges in the shooting death of Norval Bailey in June 2021. The plea was a result of an investigation by Georgia’s new Gang Prosecution Unit.
According to a press release from Carr’s office, “In total, the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit has successfully resolved three of Bannister’s criminal cases in Cobb County. In the second case, Bannister has pleaded guilty to physically assaulting another inmate while in custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center in September 2020. In the third case, Bannister has pleaded guilty to the attempted armed robbery and assault of an 18 and 19-year-old in Marietta in January 2019. When entering his pleas, Bannister admitted to being a member of 2Solid, a hybrid criminal street gang in Cobb County with ties to the Bloods. Bannister further indicated that he had been a member of 2Solid since he was 15. The defendant was sentenced to 30 years, with the first 19 to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation.”
“Norval Bailey lost his life in a senseless shooting that should have never occurred,” said Carr. “It’s Donald Bannister’s violent actions that resulted in this tragic death and the injury of three others. Now justice has been served, and the Bailey family has finally been provided with a sense of closure as they continue to mourn the passing of their loved one.”
Bannister pleaded guilty to the following charges:
In the shooting death of Norval Bailey in June 2021:
- 1 count of Voluntary Manslaughter
- 2 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
- 1 count of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
- 1 count of Attempted Sale of Marijuana
In the physical assault of another inmate in September 2020:
- 1 count of Aggravated Assault
- 2 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
In the attempted armed robbery and assault of an 18 and 19-year-old in January 2019:
- 1 count of Attempted Armed Robbery
- 1 count of Aggravated Battery
- 1 count of Aggravated Assault