CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Zackery Alexander, a Fort Campbell soldier accused of shooting and killing a two-year-old boy in 2015, has filed a motion for a change of venue in his upcoming murder trial.
On October 4, 2015, Brandon Jimenez (also a Fort Campbell soldier) was shot several times and 2-year-old Joseph Bankston was shot and killed at a home on Princeton Dr.
Police determined the shooting was intentional and later arrested Zackery Alexander as the alleged shooter. The toddler’s stepfather, David Wi, who was a Fort Campbell soldier at the time, was also arrested after police discovered the two had reportedly conspired with each other to commit the crime. Police said Wi had hired Alexander in a plan to kill not only Bankston, but also Brandon Jiminez, Lilly Wi, and Alicia Bankston Wi.
Wi was later sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years.
At the time of the incident, Wi was involved a custody battle with his wife and was reportedly listed as the beneficiary of life insurance policies on his wife, daughter, and 2-year-old Joseph.
Alexander has been charged with multiple counts of premeditated murder, aggravated burglary, and attempted first degree murder.
Court documents say Alexander’s attorney filed a motion for a change of venue March 1, 2018 for his trial. It states:
“More specifically, Mr. Alexander does not object to trying the case in Montgomery County, Tennessee. Mr. Alexander is requesting that jurors from Shelby County, Tennessee be selected to serve as jurors at the trial in this case.”
The motion states that the grounds for a venue change are based upon inflammatory pre-trial publicity.
It says, “a fair trial is unlikely because of undue excitement against the defendant in the county where offense was committed or for any other cause.”
The motion cites several news articles from multiple outlets, including ClarksvilleNow.com, that have been published about the case.
The motion will be heard March 15, 2018.
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