BATON ROUGE — A judge set the bond for a 20-year-old woman charged in the shooting death of her ex-girlfriend.
Today, a judge set Paulasia Banks’ bond amount at a total of $160,000 — $150,000 on the charges of second-degree murder and $10,000 for illegal use of a weapon, per Banks’ attorney.
Banks’ attorney filed a motion this week to set reasonable bond after Banks has been in jail since January, held without bond. Banks was initially arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and therefore not given a bond in January.
The motion states that Banks is willing to participate in any pretrial program or condition the judge deems necessary, and is not a flight risk. Banks has no prior criminal history and was a straight-A student in high school, it also states.
A grand jury indicted her on second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons charges in April. She pleaded not guilty to both.
Previous update May 7
A woman pleaded not guilty today to two charges in connection to the shooting death of 18-year-old Kassidy Jackson, who died in January. Paulasia Banks, now 20-years-old, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons, according to her attorney.
On April 29, a grand jury indicted Banks on the two charges.
Banks was initially charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of 18-year-old Kassidy Jackson.
Banks’ attorney, Sandra James Page shared the following statement on Thursday afternoon:
We continue to extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Kassidy Jackson during this difficult time.
From the outset, the defense has maintained that this incident was not an intentional act and that the facts and circumstances must be evaluated through the judicial process based on evidence, witness testimony, and applicable law.
The original allegations in this matter included first-degree murder and aggravated burglary. The indictment returned by the grand jury reflects substantially reduced charges from those initially asserted, which is consistent with the defense’s position from the beginning that the evidence does not support an intentional homicide narrative.
Ms. Banks remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, and we will continue to protect her rights and address this matter through the legal process.
Previous update Jan. 9
A woman who was injured in a shooting Thursday afternoon has died from her injuries, per officials. BRPD has arrested a 19-year-old woman in connection with the fatal shooting.
It was around 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 8th when Baton Rouge Police officers responded to Columbus Dunn Dr. and Gus Young Ave. for a shooting. Upon arrival, an 18-year-old woman, identified as Kassidy Jackson, was found injured with a gunshot wound.
She was rushed to a local hospital, but she died from her injuries.
It was the second shooting so far on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. The first happened around 8:15 a.m. near Alaska St., where one person was found dead.
According to BRPD, the shooting was a domestic-related incident. UWK has learned that the woman believed to be involved is Jackson’s ex-girlfriend, 19-year-old Paulasia Banks. She has turned herself in to law enforcement officers.
Banks is booked on a charge of first-degree murder.
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