GREENSBORO, N.C. — Five years ago, on June 26, 2019, Sheila Banks was planning to meet her son Jaishon Banks for breakfast.
But she felt something wasn't right.
"He didn't answer his phone, which is weird for him, to not answer the phone from me," Sheila said.
Not too long after that, she received a call from a detective with Greensboro Police.
"They better not tell me something happened to my son, because… he's not answering," Sheila said.
Police got called to the area for a car crash but when they arrived, they found the father of five shot and killed, sitting in his car.
Sheila said she's still shocked to this day.
"There are no words in the English language that can describe how I feel. Period," Sheila said.
That's why she, and the rest of her family are so happy that the reward for any information regarding Jaishon's murder was increased to $30,000 dollars.
For context, in addition to the Crime Stoppers Reward of $5,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced the State is offering a reward of up to $25,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Jaishon's murder.
Sheila said this announcement falls on a very special day, one of Jaishon's daughter's birthdays.
"She said "thank God." A 15 year-old, on her birthday, saying thank God? [about reward money for information on her father's murder] Thank god! She [Sheila's granddaughter] said, 'someone cares,' I said, 'yes they do,'" Sheila explained.
Sheila said even after all this time, someone, somewhere has to know something.
"Nothing goes without a witness. Nothing in this world happens without a witness, whether they hear it, see it, or know about it," Sheila said.
She knows getting those answers won't bring her baby back but by talking about it and keeping his name alive, she's turning her pain into power.
"If I can prevent just one mother from not feeling this agony... Cause that's what it is, agony... Then I've done my job," Sheila said.
If you know the identity of the individual(s) involved or have any information concerning this incident, please contact Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. You can also download the mobile P3tips app to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. Earn a cash reward of up to $30,000 for helping law enforcement solve this case.