A Jacksonville man has turned himself in to police and is now facing manslaughter and weapons charges in connection with a Christmas Day 2024 shooting that left a woman dead. Authorities say 39-year-old Lisa Santos was found with a gunshot wound to the chest inside an apartment on Dunn Avenue on Dec. 25, 2024, and died before she could be taken to the hospital.
According to Action News Jax, detectives identified the suspect as Thomas Banks and secured an arrest warrant last Friday. Banks then surrendered on Tuesday. The outlet reports that, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report, he is charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As News4JAX reports, detectives tied Banks to the killing by reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and swabbing a firearm found inside the apartment. Investigators say that work laid the groundwork for the arrest warrant that was in place before his surrender.
Charges and What They Mean
Under Florida law, manslaughter is defined in Section 782.07 of the Florida Statutes and is commonly prosecuted as a second-degree felony. State law also prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms under Section 790.23 of the Florida Statutes. Together with Florida’s sentencing guidelines, those statutes mean each count could bring substantial prison time if prosecutors secure convictions.
What Comes Next
Action News Jax reports that Banks is being held in the Duval County Jail on an $850,003 bond while authorities continue their investigation. Prosecutors will decide on formal charges and set a court schedule as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office continues gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
