CRIME
Elderly Man Who Allegedly Robbed Bank With Hoax Bomb Shot And Killed By Police In California
Orange County Sheriff's Department
Police in California shot and killed an elderly man who allegedly robbed a Wells Fargo bank on Tuesday using a hoax bomb to threaten the teller.
The Fullerton Police Department said officers responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 141 W. Bastanchury Road at around 5:09 p.m. on Tuesday, and made contact with bank employees inside by telephone. The suspect exited the bank allegedly carrying a white box containing stolen money and a suspicious device, and was shot and killed by officers.
Police say the masked suspect, believed to be in his 70s, entered the bank while it was still open and another customer and employees were inside. He demanded money from the teller and threatened to detonate a bomb, revealing what appeared to be an explosive device in the white box.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad also responded to the scene, and determined the facsimile device was constructed to resemble an actual explosive device, police said.
The California Department of Justice is investigating the officer shooting. Fullerton Police are still investigating the bank robbery itself.
Police did not publicly identify the suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing.
TMX contributed to this article.
