2nd defendant pleads guilty in failed Silo robbery

The second of three Chicago men charged in a failed robbery attempt at a Lake County restaurant pleaded guilty Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

And like Edward Jackson before him, Kennedy Banks agreed to testify against the remaining defendant in the case, Charles Knight.

All three were arrested for the Dec. 9, 2007 attempted robbery of The Solo near Lake Bluff that left two restaurant employees wounded.

To cement his agreement with prosecutors that will have him facing a prison sentence of 13 to 17 years, Banks had to preview his testimony before Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Under questioning from Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz, Banks, 47, said he met with Knight and Jackson in Chicago about two weeks before the robbery to make plans. Banks said Jackson worked at the restaurant and suggested it as the target, and Knight, 45, was the only one of the three with a gun.

Banks said he and Knight arrived at the restaurant, and Knight took a .40 caliber pistol from the car's engine compartment and stuck it in his waistband.

After having a meal, they announced the robbery and Banks began herding customers toward the back of the restaurant, he told the judge.

Banks said he went into the kitchen to get the employees to join the customers, but wound up chasing one who ran out the back door. Bank said he was outside when he heard a gunshot and returned to see two men laying on the floor.

Police said Knight fired one shot that struck a 27-year-old employee in the right arm, then passed into the back of a 31-year-old employee. Both survived the shooting.

When he went back into the restaurant, Banks said, Knight was gone. Banks went out the front door and climbed into the car as Knight was driving away.

Banks said he asked Knight why he had fired, and agreed with Fisz that Knight replied "He didn't move fast enough, so I (expletive) shot him."

Jackson, 44, was arrested a few days after the shooting. Police caught Knight in Indiana in November.

Banks was arrested in Chicago on Dec. 23 by sheriff's police and the FBI's fugitive task force. He pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm, and Fisz agreed to drop charges of armed violence, aggravated discharge of a firearm and burglary.

Jackson pleaded guilty to the same crime in February and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Knight is charged with all the original offenses and is scheduled to go on trial June 8.

Foreman scheduled a June 26 sentencing hearing for Banks.