Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Mass Murderer George Banks, Who Killed 13 in 1982 Pennsylvania Rampage, Dies at 83
A man named George Banks, who was one of the most famous bad guys in America, has died in prison.
Back in 1982, he did something very, very sad and terrible.
He used a gun to hurt 14 people and sadly killed 13 of them.
Among those he killed were his own five young children.
He also hurt other people, including mothers of his children and other kids.
After he was caught, he was sent to prison.
People thought he should be executed for his crimes, but judges decided he was too sick in his mind to be put to death.
So, he stayed in prison for the rest of his life.
He died recently because he had a sickness called kidney cancer.
George Banks, convicted of killing 13 people in a 1982 Pennsylvania rampage, died at age 83.
He died Sunday afternoon in a state prison from complications of kidney cancer.
Banks had been imprisoned since 1982 after shooting 14 people, including his five children, ages 1-6.
He was convicted of 12 counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder.
State courts prevented his execution due to his mental incompetence, resulting in a life sentence.
- Who
- George Banks, a convicted mass murderer
- What
- Died in prison from complications of kidney cancer. He was serving a life sentence for a 1982 rampage where he killed 13 people, including five of his children.
- When
- Died Sunday afternoon; the rampage occurred in 1982.
- Where
- Died at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania; the 1982 rampage occurred in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
- Why
- Died of complications from kidney cancer. He was imprisoned for life due to being found mentally incompetent for execution after his 1982 conviction for mass murder.
Defense Argument
Survivor's View
Mental Competency and Execution
Defense Argument
Defense lawyers argued Banks was insane and mentally incompetent when he committed the murders, which ultimately prevented his execution and resulted in a life sentence.
Survivor's View
A teenager who survived being shot by Banks expressed frustration in 2012 that Banks was not executed, questioning the purpose of the death penalty if it is not enforced.
- Name
- George Banks
- Age at Death
- 83
- Date of Death
- Sunday afternoon
- Location of Death
- Phoenix state prison, Pennsylvania
- Cause of Death
- Complications from renal neoplasm (kidney cancer)
- Year of Rampage
- 1982
- Victims Killed
- 13
- Victims Shot
- 14