NEW ORLEANS — When Jay Banks got word of a guilty plea for a robbery that left two of his friends dead, there was a sigh of relief over lingering pain.
“We miss them tremendously because they were both very good men and it is a very, very sad thing to see young lives lost,” said Banks.
Those lives were Everett Briscoe, 41, and Dyrin Riculfy, 43. The two friends were on a weekend trip in Houston with fellow members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club back in August of 2021. Briscoe and Riculfy were shot and killed during a robbery while eating outside a restaurant.
“This pain doesn’t go away. It doesn’t get better over time,” said Banks. “You may very well deal with it better but there’s always a void. There’s always something that’s hurtful.”
Three men allegedly involved in the crime were arrested. Tuesday, Frederick Jackson, 22, of San Antonio pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.
“It is an absolute tragedy, and it shows that anyone, anywhere can be the victim of a violent crime,” said Harris County, Texas District Attorney Kim Ogg in a statement.
With a plea deal, Jackson was sentenced to 60 years. He'll be eligible for parole after 30 years.
“Sixty years is a long time. It’s nowhere near long enough but the truth be told,” said Banks. “We’re glad that there is some justice in this, in that he will never be able to affect another family.”
Briscoe, a 13-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, and Riculfy, a Slidell business owner, leave behind their own families. Briscoe has two sons.
“The fact that those boys don’t have their daddy was the part that hurt the most because that is what I think in life he enjoyed the most, was being their daddy,” said Banks.
Briscoe’s wife Terrill Briscoe released the following statement to WWL Louisiana.
“Mr. Jackson’s guilty plea and the proposed prison sentence reflect the severity of the crime he committed and the impact it continues to have on so many innocent people. We are pleased to see him held accountable for his actions and appreciate the hard work of the Harris County District Attorney’s office and the court in obtaining justice. While we know it will never bring our loved ones back, we believe this is an important first step in holding everyone accountable for the unnecessary and tragic murders of two great men.”
For Banks, whose brother was murdered back in 1979, a case still unsolved, addressing gun violence involving young adults is overdue.
“Locking them up is not going to fix what happened to Everett,” said Banks. “Making sure that no other Everett ever happens is what I think we need to be focused on.”
Friends and family are still focused on healing, trying to live on without their loved ones.
“Nothing about arresting or convicting or any other punishment that they could receive will make this better. The fact that our friends are no longer here is something that we’ll never get over,” said Banks.
The district attorney’s office in Harris County, Texas expects Briscoe’s family to be in a Houston courtroom next week to deliver victim impact statements. Jackson is expected to be in court to face them.
The other two defendants, Anthony Jenkins, 24, and Khalil Nelson, 21, are still facing separate trials.
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