DeQuana “Quanny” White became violent during an appearance in Falls City Court 10 days ago on charges unrelated to his involvement in the killing of Dorothy Joelle Banks.Niagara Falls gang member, already facing a murder charge, created a disturbance in Falls City Court and the city jail and then threatened to kill police officers.White began swearing at Chief City Court Judge Mark Violante as his hearing was concluding, and officers went to escort him back to the city jail. As court officers tired to cut off his expletive-laced tirade against Violante, White became “combative, pushing back against (officers) in an attempt to escape.”
Reports indicate officers “took White to the ground” and, after gaining control of him, escorted him back to a cell. Once in the jail holding area, White again became combative with officers.“I’ll murder all you (expletive),” White said. “Just because you wear a badge? I’ll kill all you (expletive). Let me see you outside. I’m a gangster.”Police did not charge White in connection with the incident.He already is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the Sept. 5 slaying of Banks.White also is charged with attempted murder, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm in connection with a shooting incident in the 2200 block of Niagara Street on Aug. 31 that left a 27-year-old man and a 4-year-old boy wounded.
The 18-year-old member of the Bloods street gang, known in the Falls’ North End by the street name “O.G.,” shorthand for “original gangster” has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is being held without bail. The “O.G.” moniker is normally reserved for gang members who have been involved in violence and drug dealing for a long period of time.White is no stranger to Falls police narcotics detectives and gang investigators. Because of his history of violent crime, he was arrested at gunpoint Sept. 7 in a motel parking lot on Niagara Falls Boulevard during a torrential downpour.Detectives investigating the Banks homicide said White became a person of interest to them early on in their probe. Officers responding to a call of a disturbance, found Banks’ body slumped in the front seat of her car in an alley in the 1300 block of Ashland Avenue. Banks, 35, 1923 18th St., was rushed to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where she died from her wounds.