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Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks
January 12, 2019
The Tate High School Aggie family is mourning the loss of sophomore Sean Banks and his older sister Antoinette Marie McCoy in a tragic car crash early Saturday morning. Their vehicle was hit by an alleged DUI driver.
Banks, 15, was a varsity basketball player and also played baseball and varsity football for the Aggies.
He was a member of the Academic Team and had a 3.91 GPA. He was named the October Student of the Month at Tate High School.
“Sean was a very gentle and kindhearted young man, who enjoyed helping others,” the Tate Aggies Basketball program said in a statement. “Antoinette McCoy was Sean’s older sister and one of his biggest supporters. Antoinette was a very kind and generous young woman with a great love for her family. She spent many nights in the stands along with her mother cheering on her brother and our Aggies.”
“The Tate Aggie Basketball Family loved them both and they will truly be missed.”
For more on the wreck, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
34 Responses to “Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks”
Many prayers for your peace. I’m so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know either personally. But since the day I found out I’ve followed this story. I can’t imagine! May god bless you and your family. He sound like a wonderful young man with wonderful parents. Peace be with you.
My thoughts & prayers are still with you and your family during this difficult time. Although I never met your children, I met you, Earl, thru my son Brandon and you took him under your wings at work. From reading here, I can only imagine your son & daughter to be same. They’ve both touched many lives and I hope knowing that can comfort you and your family. Prayers…
Sean was in band back in Virginia he sat right next to me, our only bari sax player, and he and I talked every day, he was an amazing student and an amazing athlete, but most of all, he was an amazing friend, and that’s the one thing I will never forget about, he was always there, and because of him my life is better than it once was.
Sean was one of my best friends at Independence Middle School. When I went to school on Monday everyone who knew Sean was in grief. Sean was the type of person what knew if someone needed help he would be there to help until they didn’t need anymore help. Sean will always be in my heart and everyone else’s heart for eternity.
I miss all the fun times we had together and hope that I will see you again someday.
He played baseball with me when he lived in virgina, he was an amazing person on and off the feild. Before every baseball practice he would have football practice for school and he said he was so tired and he still gave 110% at practice. I love you cuzzo. Fly high.
May god give your family the strength during this tragedy! You two definitely have god in your heart! I couldn’t even imagine going through what your family is going through! The out pouring of love and support from ones you know and do not know I pray will help you! Y’all raised some good kids from what I can see and what I have heard! They were taken way to soon! I pray for your family and I pray for justice.
Dear Family,
It is with deepest sympathy to hear about the loss of two beautiful children inside and out. I was Sean’s Kindergarten teacher and I am in disbelief. He has touch so many lives for the short time he was here. He was a good student, thoughtful, and caring. I remember his infectious smile and gentle spirit. I will keep you all in my prayers. My God give you strength as you go through the valley of the shadow of death.
Love,
Your Maryland Family
He was a student at Ardmore Elementary School in Springdale, Maryland. Shawn was an excellent student and awesome young man. It is so sad to hear the news of such a lovely brother and sister. May God bless and keep the family. Your Maryland Family!
@Esc co LEO— I agree 100%. To go further, I think they should have different degrees of DUI based on blood alchohol level.
The whole Tate Aggie family & community is grieving for your family. We will continue to pray for peace and healing. I hope this saves a life somewhere in the future.
They were my everything. Anyone who knows me, knew he was my shadow. He went everywhere with me. To know that he touched so many lives in the short time he was here brings nothing but joy to our family. He was an amazing young man and he left a lasting legacy. Thank you everyone for the calls, text, reaching out through social media, prayers. We are beyond grateful for every minute we had with them.
Tears galore…………….I am so so sorry………………HOW DO YOU CARRY ON FROM HERE………..peace be with you………..brother and sister…………. too much to handle……Please know My thoughts and prayers go out to this family..
My heart is heavy in reading about this Aweful Tragedy. There are no words that can Express my condolences. Believing for much comfort to surround the Family and Friends of these two young people. Pensacola and surrounding cities are mourning with you.
Prayers for the families involved- this is heart wrenching when the innocent pay the price of a sinner. Fly high angels!
My son went to school with Sean in elementary and middle school. They played together on the football team in middle school. Sean was always such a sweet young man and so SMART!!! My daughter was in SCA with him. He would always wave and smile whenever he saw me. I gave him a ride home at the end of their eighth grade football season after a banquet. He and my son dapped each other up for the last time because he was moving to Florida.
My family is sending all the love and prayers we can muster from Virginia Beach, VA. May God”s love comfort and support you.
No words to express how horrible this is. I pray for the family, the parents that have to bury 2 children. We’re not supposed to outlive our kids. They had their whole lives ahead of them. The driver should get the death penalty.
Heartbreaking. Young man was talented with such a great attitude.
This community will miss him and his sister dearly.
Prayers for his family.
Why did this have to happen?
This was not this mans first brush with the law..Too bad a lenient judge chose to let this man go..time and time again..time and time again he had his wrist slapped..time and time again he basically walked away..with little or no consequences..Now he has devastated innumerable lives..not only his familys but the victims families and friends…and a school… and an extended community..no punishment would be adaquate..nothing could come close to getting any kind of retribution..NOTHING!! I remember this young man from church years ago..My heart breaks for the way his life has turned out..it breaks because lives will never be the same because of his decisions…my prayers to all the families..
So sad. I went to school with Sean for a few years and he was such a good guy. He will be missed and my family will be praying for his.
This story and the accompanying one make me feel as if my own heart has fallen.
My prayers and hopes go to the family that has lost so much and to the school where in an instant so much has changed horribly.
Lord, there just aren’t any words.
I was in the academic team class last year with Sean and he was one of the most hard-working and well-rounded students in the academic team. He was an amazing guy and this absolutely isn’t fair to anyone.
The drunk driver should get life in prison, period. This is such a horrible thing to do, and it angers me that there’s even a bail amount.
I’ve lost a loved one in a car accident. My son. He never leaves my mind. This young man and his sister will forever be with their family in their memories. God bless them and be with them in the coming days and forever into the future.
The ECSO arrested about 400 DUI drivers last year. All of those were found BEFORE a crash occurred. FHP arrested about another 100 that had ALREADY crashed. Combine all agencies in the county and we are arresting 500-600 DUI drivers per year and it still isn’t enough.
We need stiffer penalties for DUI to make people stop.
Praying that God will help comfort your heart in this tragic time. I am so sorry that this happened. Will continue to pray for your family. I am heart broken for you. I can’t imagine the pain you are feeling. Only Gods comfort could get you through. Heaven is rejoicing with two beautiful new angels.
Such a sad day for this family who lost 2 children. My thoughts & prayers go out to them and their “Tate Aggie” family who shares their loss. God bless you & keep you wrapped in a hedge of protection & comfort as you grieve through your loss.
Take time everyday to let your loved ones know that you love them!
I’m so sorry for your loss.. there are no words to comfort you that I know. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Sean was one of the best friends and if not the best teammate you could’ve ever asked for. I sat next to him in our AP Biology class and played freshman basketball with him last year. Whether it was on the court, in a classroom, or in the hallways, he was one of the most amazing people i’d met in my life. Rest in peace and take it easy brother.
Young lives lost senselessly. May God bless and comfort this family every moment of every day. Condolence is not a strong enough word to express the heaviness of one’s heart upon hearing this news, but still I offer mine. The family will continually be in my prayers.
Beautiful lives wasted. I am so sorry for the families.
Our prayers for the family of these two Aggie students.
I’m also a student at Tate, and I sat in front of Sean in our AP Biology class. He was always so nice to everybody, and he was a great student, too. He was involved in sports and extracurriculars, and he was driven and dedicated to what he did. I know we’re all shocked that this happened, and it serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to be thankful for our time spent here on Earth with our family and friends. We never know which day is going to be our last. My prayers go out to Sean’s loved ones during this difficult time.
Our family is saddened for your loss of your sweet Sean. We didn’t know him nor the family, but we know first hand what it’s like to unexpectedly loose the love of your life. Lifting you and your family up in our prayers and thoughts. May Jehovah God walk this journey with you giving you all the strength, comfort and peace you will need to continue forward.
I just don’t understand how they (our justice system) comes up with bond amounts. Twenty five thousand dollars for causing two lives of innocent people to be taken. Unbelievable.
So So So sad two young and innocent lives taken in a horrific DUI crash that should have never happened.
Prayers to all families..