Brian Boyd: NYC man who ran over and killed 'Gone Girl' star Lisa Banes pleads guilty to manslaughter
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The man charged with running over and killing ‘Gone Girl’ star Lisa Banes with an e-scooter on the streets of NYC in 2021, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday, September 28.
Brian Boyd, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of the incident without alerting authorities. He may be get a 1-3 year sentence after the sentencing on November 30. Earlier, Boyd pleaded not guilty to any charges in August 2021 but later, he changed his plea.
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The brutally injured actress was rushed to Sinai Morningside Hospital, where she was reportedly in critical condition after suffering a brain injury. She died six weeks later on July 14, 2021, at the age of 65. Boyd was arrested on August 5, 2021.
Surveillance cameras captured Boyd heading north on Amsterdam Avenue on his e-scooter wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a unique tie-dye design, which was easy to spot. On the way, he broke a red light and mowed down Banes as she was crossing a road at the intersection of West 64th and Amsterdam Avenue. The impact was such that Boyd was knocked off his bike. However, he brushed off his clothes and picked up his scooter. He checked on Banes and fled, leaving her to bleeding on the road.
Police said that investigation officers identified Boyd, who resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan near the intersection where the crash occurred, from a wanted poster. "Brian Boyd drove recklessly with no regard for pedestrians, fatally striking a beloved actress and New Yorker before speeding off to avoid accountability. Lisa Banes will be remembered for her contributions to the rich fabric of New York City through her roles on screen and Broadway. I offer her friends, family, and the many who loved her during her decades-long career my deepest condolences." Boyd's attorney is yet to comment on the sentencing.
Many actors and directors who had worked with the star expressed their shock when Banes died. “Her stage presence, magnetism, skill, and talent were matched only by her unwavering kindness and graciousness toward all of us,” actor Seth MacFarlane wrote on Twitter. “A tremendous loss. Friend and singer Jill Sobule tweeted, "Just busted. Lisa Banes was magnificent, hilarious, and big-hearted – always helped me through the hard times. She was so beloved by so many."
Lisa Bnes has played roles in the films 'Gone Girl' in 2014 and 'Cocktail' in 1988. She has also starred in TV shows including 'Nashville', 'Madam Secretary', 'Masters of Sex' and 'NCIS'.