South St. Paul man given 35½-year sentence for killing man in downtown Rochester after dice game

A Twin Cities man has received a 35½-year sentence for his role in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man in downtown Rochester during a fight over a dice game.

Derrick T. Days, 29, of South St. Paul, was sentenced Monday in Olmsted County District Court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree assault in connection with the 2021 killing of Todd L. Banks Jr. of Rochester.

With credit for time served since his arrest, Days is expected to spend roughly the first 22 years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

Days' criminal history in Minnesota also includes convictions for burglary and illegal possession of a gun.

An alleged accomplice, Nautica D. Cox, 24, of Minneapolis, remains jailed on charges of second-degree murder and illegal possession of a gun. Cox's next court date is May 25. He previously was convicted in Minnesota for assault, robbery and illegal gun possession.

According to the criminal complaints:

A officer on patrol saw Cox shooting toward people at SW. 1st Avenue and 3rd Street shortly before 2:30 a.m. on June 6, 2021. He spotted Cox ducking into a nearby alley behind what was once Dooley's Pub and discovered a handgun in the immediate vicinity.

Police found Banks at the intersection with at least five gunshot wounds. He was put in an ambulance and declared dead.

A police review of downtown video surveillance showed people playing dice at the intersection where the shooting occurred. The video then showed Banks and a 26-year-old man on the ground fighting, and Days moved the 26-year-old man out of the way and shot Banks several times.

Cox was arrested at the scene. Days was arrested elsewhere in Rochester that same morning.